Town win season opener against Sheffield Wednesday

- Huddersfield Town go through to Second Round of Carabao Cup
- Terriers win 4-2 on penalties
- Five debutants impressed

Huddersfield Town secured their place in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup after beating Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 on penalties at Hillsborough.

Town started the game the brighter of the two sides, keeping plenty of possession in the hosts’ half.

The first chance of the game fell to the Terriers in the 12th minute. Danny Ward did well to take the ball from a Wednesday player inside the opposition half, before sending the ball to Josh Koroma. Koroma slipped the ball to Scott High, who shot on his left from the edge of the box, forcing Bailey Peacock-Farrell into a good save.

Town continued to build on their possession, with Lewis O’Brien getting his head on a cross from Harry Toffolo. However, Lewis was unable to do any more than flick the ball wide of the far post.#

O’Brien was at the centre of the action again just moments later. The Owls were able to break forward into the Town half, but O’Brien got back to execute a perfect sliding challenge on Dennis Adeniran.

O’Brien’s second chance followed soon after. He nabbed the ball from Adeniran and broke clear, sending a low shot towards Peacock-Farrell from 20 yards out. The ‘keeper does well to save low to his left.

The Owls had the potential to be a threat for Town when Andre Green charged into the penalty area, but Matty Pearson was there to win the ball back and send it out of danger.

A third chance came for the Terriers in the 35th minute of play, when Levi Colwill, making his competitive debt, leapt highest to connect from a free-kick from Duane Holmes. It looked like the ball was heading straight for the top corner, but it drifted just wide at the final second.

The second half got off to an interesting start, with a stoppage in play as Callum Paterson went down following an aerial tackle. This was swiftly followed by Ward being shown a yellow card for a high challenge on a Wednesday player.

Town took the first chance of the second half, breaking the hosts’ high press and attacking down the left. Toffolo sends the ball towards the back post, but Ward’s header isn’t powerful enough to prove a threat to Peacock-Farrell.

A mistake in the Terriers’ possession gave Paterson a chance to try his luck on goal, fortunately his low drive was straight at Nicholls.

Town had two big changes in very quick succession. Second half substitute Sorba Thomas tried to get on the rebound of Holmes’ long-range effort, but former Town man Jack Hunt does extremely well to clear the danger.

Thomas was at the centre of the action for the Terriers’ biggest chance of the game, latching onto a loop from High to advance on the home goal. Owls captain Barry Bannan does unbelievably well to get back and block the shot.

Former Town man Jaden Brown forced Lee Nicholls into a good save in the 78th minute. Brown got a low shot at him, forcing him to get low to his left to send the ball away from danger.

The 80th minute of the game saw Jonathan Hogg receive his first yellow card of the season for bringing down Adeniran.

Levi Colwill was the third Terrier to be shown a yellow card after being judged to have blocked off Paterson as the pair raced for the ball.

Substitute Jordan Rhodes had two big chances as the game went into injury time. His first saw his header hacked behind by Sam Hutchinson, whilst his second went over the bar.

Another chance for Town soon followed, this time Thomas’ corner was flicked towards the back post, before hitting Colwill on the head and flying over the cross bar!

The scoreline was still level at the final whistle, and so the game went straight to penalties.

Jonathan Hogg won the toss and so the penalties were taken in front of the Town faithful!

Sam Hutchinson and Dennis Adeniran scored for Wednesday, before Lee Nicholls denied both Massimo Luongo and Liam Palmer.

Amidst a chorus of boos, Jordan Rhodes scored Town’s opening penalty, before being joined by Sorba Thomas and Danel Sinani.

Lewis O’Brien stepped up to take the winning penalty, and made absolutely no mistake in smashing it home and sending Town through to the Second Round of the Carabao Cup.

Town’s line-up (4-3-3)

Lee Nicholls; Harry Toffolo, Levi Colwill, Matty Pearson, Ollie Turton; Lewis O’Brien, Jonathan Hogg, Duane Holmes; Josh Koroma (Sorba Thomas, 57’), Danny Ward (Jordan Rhodes, 81’), Scott High (Danel Sinani, 89’)

Unused Subs

Ryan Schofield; Alex Vallejo, Josh Ruffels, Naby Sarr

Town Booking

Danny Ward (52’), Jonathan Hogg (80’), Levi Colwill (86’)

Penalty Scorers

Jordan Rhodes, Sorba Thomas, Danel Sinani, Lewis O'Brien