Cambridge through to EFL Cup third round for the first time since 1998

Aug 26, 2025 1 min read
James Brophy scored Cambridge’s first goal (Martin Rickett/PA)
James Brophy scored Cambridge’s first goal (Martin Rickett/PA)

Cambridge beat Charlton 3-1 to reach the third round of the Carabao Cup for the first time in 27 years.

Goals from James Brophy, Kylian Kouassi and Zak Bradshaw earned the League Two side an impressive victory over their Championship opponents.

Cambridge went ahead in the 15th minute courtesy of a terrific team move which culminated in Elias Kachunga running clear down the left and pulling the ball back for Brophy to fire home.

That lead was doubled in the 29th minutes when Kouassi outmuscled the last Charlton defender before drilling beyond Ashley Maynard-Brewer to mark his first Cambridge start with a goal.

Having offered little threat, the visitors halved the deficit a minute before half time through Ibrahim Fullah, the 18-year old benefiting from defensive hesitancy to collect the ball and fire a fierce effort past Jake Eastwood from outside the box.

Charlton’s hope proved short-lived as the U’s struck again 10 minutes after the break. Maynard-Brewer made a superb save from Kachunga but the ball fell to defender Bradshaw to net the rebound.

The Addicks ended the game with 10 men after Karoy Anderson received a second booking in the 12th minute of added time for a high boot.

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