EFL Cup

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League Cup | Round Two

Aug 25, 2015 at 7.45pm UK

Luton Luton Town
1-1
Stoke Stoke City

McGeehan (91')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Walters (67')

Stoke win 8-7 on penalties

Stoke City break Luton Town hearts on penalties

By Tom Nightingale, Reporter | 25 August 2015

Luton Town suffer a heartbreaking 8-7 penalty shootout defeat to Stoke City after a 1-1 draw in the League Cup second-round tie at Kenilworth Road.

Stoke City have progressed into the third round of the League Cup after beating League Two Luton Town 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road.

Both teams came into the match in poor form, with Luton's shock victory over Championship side Bristol City in the first round the only win recorded by either side so far this season.

Stoke dominated the early stages, with Marko Arnautovic firing straight at Luton goalkeeper Elliot Justham and Phil Bardsley shooting over the top.

Scott Griffiths of Luton Town is closed down by Jonathan Walters of Stoke City during the Capital One Cup second round match between Luton Town and Stoke City at Kenilworth Road on August 25, 2015 © Getty Images

The home side created a chance of their own when Scott Griffiths's effort from range had to be tipped over by Potters debutant Shay Given, and Luton thought that they should have had a penalty when Stephen O'Donnell tangled with Arnautovic inside the Stoke box.

Jonathan Walters stung Justham's palms with a rasping effort before Bojan, playing for the first time since being ruled out with a knee injury in January, scuffed wide as Mark Hughes's side looked to find a breakthrough.

Peter Crouch nearly marked his first appearance of the season with a goal when his overhead kick from Bojan's lofted ball went narrowly wide, and Stoke could have had a spot kick when Luke Wilkinson appeared to bring down Walters.

Crouch was denied by Justham as Luton dug in, but the Premier League side finally found a way through midway through the second half when Stephen Ireland's ball found Walters in the box for the forward to finish assuredly.

Luton had late chances to force an extra 30 minutes when Cameron McGeehan curled inches wide and then tested Given moments later, and they found an equaliser in stoppage time when the midfielder stabbed home from close range to take the game to extra time.

Although both sides had opportunities to win the game in open play, Justham parrying Walters's attempt and McGeehan hitting the side-netting for Luton, the teams required a penalty shootout to decide the winner.

After the first 14 penalties of the shootout were all scored, there was heartbreak for the League Two side when Griffiths's effort rebounded off the crossbar and Geoff Cameron scored to send the Premier League side into the hat for round three.