Premier League side Brentford narrowly advanced to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday, edging Sheffield Wednesday in a penalty shootout after a tense 1-1 draw.
The Bees took an early lead through Kevin Schade, albeit with a touch of luck. The German forward’s initial strike was saved by 19-year-old Sheffield Wednesday keeper Pierce Charles, but the rebound fell back to Schade after deflecting off Gabriel Otegbayo, allowing him an easy tap-in. The Premier League side continued to pressure Wednesday’s high defensive line, with Charles making crucial stops against Keane Lewis-Potter and Bryan Mbeumo.
Sheffield Wednesday struggled to make inroads during a quiet first half, managing only one touch inside Brentford’s penalty area. However, they came out stronger after the break, and their perseverance paid off when Djeidi Gassama leveled the score with a spectacular long-range strike from 25 yards, sparking new life into the match.
Flekken then had to stay sharp, stopping efforts from Ike Ugbo and Liam Palmer in quick succession, while Charles at the other end denied Mbeumo once again as both sides sought a winner. Both teams introduced regular starters from the bench in a bid to break the deadlock, but neither could find the crucial second goal, sending the game to a tense shootout.
In the shootout, the first nine penalties were converted until Flekken redeemed himself by saving Palmer’s final attempt, securing Brentford’s place in the last eight for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
Flekken Reflects on Mixed Performance
While Flekken was Brentford’s shootout savior, he admitted his role in Wednesday’s equalizer was a point of frustration. Attempting to launch a swift counter-attack, Flekken’s throw was intercepted by Gassama, who scored from distance.
“At the moment I caught the corner kick I had so many possibilities but I took the wrong one,” Flekken told Sky Sports. “The mistake I made helped a lot to bring our mental side down. It went from a controlled game to an open game. I need to learn from that.”
The 31-year-old remained resilient, saying:
“It’s not the first and only mistake I’ve made in my career. I’m 31 now with quite some experience, that helps a lot [to come back from] a mistake like that.”
Writer’s View
Brentford’s persistence and depth ultimately paid off, but Sheffield Wednesday showed impressive resilience, particularly through Gassama’s stunning equalizer. Flekken’s mixed performance highlighted Brentford’s vulnerability, yet his penalty save salvaged a narrow victory that Brentford will need to build on.
