‘The highlight so far’ – Johnnie Jackson reacts as Wimbledon knock out Premier League Ipswich Town to set up Newcastle EFL Cup tie
AFC Wimbledon will face Newcastle United in the third round of the EFL Cup after knocking out Premier League side Ipswich on Wednesday evening following a penalty shootout win.
Ali Al-Hamadi put the visitors ahead after three minutes when he nodded Conor Townsend’s cross past Owen Goodman.
But Wimbledon fought back to equalise in the 40th minute when Omar Bugiel met Jake Reeves’ free-kick to score.
Johnnie Jackson’s side took the lead just before the hour mark when another Reeves free-kick was swung into the box, and Matty Stevens snuck between the Ipswich defence to head beyond Christian Walton.
The Premier League side eventually equalised and forced the game to penalties in the 86th minute through Conor Chaplin.
Jake Reeves missed during the penalty shootout to hand Ipswich the advantage, but Owen Goodman saved Jack Taylor’s effort to keep the scoreline at 2-2 after both sides had taken three spot kicks.
Goodman saved again from Omari Hutchinson to give Wimbledon the advantage, and Isaac Ogundere scored to book Wimbledon’s place in the third round.
“It’s probably the highlight so far,” said Jackon when asked where the result ranked in his managerial career.
“Certainly one of them anyway. This is the third time coming up against Kieran McKenna as a manager and it hasn’t gone great for me in the previous couple.
“To win tonight against a talented young coach is nice on a personal level. I’m really pleased for the football club. To have a night like this against a Premier League – beating a Premier League team – is outstanding.”
Ogundere, 21, slotted away the winning penalty to send Plough Lane into raptures.
Jackson said: “You need boys who fancy it in those moments and his hand went straight up.
“He does actually practice penalties, so it’s nice he had that confidence in himself.
“I said to the lads: ‘There will be no repercussions if it doesn’t go our way.’
“Hopefully, that brought them a little bit of calmness as well.
“They took them really well.”
PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS