Middlesbrough opened their Carabao Cup campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Wrexham, thanks to a debut goal from new signing Lankeshar. The 21‑year‑old, who arrived from Tottenham for a reported £10 million in the summer transfer window, broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with a crisp first‑time volley that curled into the far corner.
The strike gave the Boro a much‑needed win and marked a promising start for the youngster in the Boro shirt. The match began with Wrexham creating early chances.
In the seventh minute, Adilson Malanda nudged Sebastian Berhalter's low cross toward goal, but Middlesbrough goalkeeper Danny Ward produced a reflex save at point‑blank range, keeping the scores level. Later, Wrexham’s Danny Imray missed a golden opportunity when he failed to connect cleanly with Callum Doyle's cross, and just before the half‑time break Sam Smith hammered a low shot that clanged against the legs of Middlesbrough keeper Sol Brynn after a well‑timed run from Nathan Broadhead. The second half started with Lankeshar testing the opposition bar with a curling effort that sailed just over the cross‑bar. However, his persistence paid off shortly after.
Leo Castledine headed a Jeremy Sarmiento cross into the striker’s path, and Lankeshar spun and met the ball with a perfectly timed first‑time volley, sending it into the top corner and sealing the win for Middlesbrough. The Boro almost doubled their lead when Morgan Whittaker’s low drive struck the post with three minutes remaining, but the ball rebounded harmlessly, allowing Wrexham to hold on for a respectable defeat. Across the country, Wolverhampton Wanderers also progressed comfortably, dispatching League Two side Port Vale 3-0. All three goals arrived in the first half, with Adam Armstrong, Andre and Fer Lopez each finding the net.
The victory also marked the debut of Wolves manager Cesar Peixoto, who celebrated his first competitive win in charge. Port Vale had moments of promise, notably when Jordan Lawrence‑Gabriel produced a spectacular chance that was saved, and a penalty taken by Mo Faal was thwarted by Dan Bentley’s legs, denying the visitors a consolation goal. Wolves’ 21,360‑strong crowd at Molineux turned the occasion into a homecoming celebration for returning striker Raúl Jiménez. The Mexican forward, who re‑joined the club after three seasons at Fulham, came on as a late substitute and unleashed a powerful shot, though he could not add to the tally against a disciplined Port Vale defense.
Nonetheless, Wolves secured their place in the second round of the competition. Stevenage’s tie against Wycombe also produced drama. New signing Josh Magennis, who arrived from Exeter earlier in the summer, headed home the decisive goal in stoppage time of the second half, clinching a 2-1 win and sending the club through to the next round. The match had been evenly balanced: Dan Kemp gave Wycombe the lead in the 27th minute after exploiting a momentary lapse in the home defence, but Ewan Henderson equalised for the visitors just before the break, slipping past the Wycombe back line to slot home from just outside the six‑yard box.
Stevenage threatened again before the interval when Kemp’s strike rattled the bar from the edge of the area. In the second half, Wycombe attempted to dominate but struggled to create clear chances.
Substitute Emre Tezgel, introduced for Cauley Woodrow, found himself blocked by Stevenage captain Carl Piergianni when he tried to finish a Thomas cross in the 77th minute. Magennis’s late header finally broke the deadlock, delivering a dramatic finish to a tightly contested match. The Carabao Cup’s first round for the 2026/27 season is being broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering fans the chance to watch every tie as clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two kick off the competition.
Upcoming fixtures feature high‑profile clubs such as West Ham United, Burnley and Leicester City, all set to compete on Saturday. Viewers can also follow the action on Soccer Saturday, where all 29 opening‑round matches will be updated with live goal feeds. In addition to the football action, Sky Sports is promoting its Super 6 game, giving fans a free entry chance to win a share of a £250,000 prize pool.
The tournament promises excitement, surprise upsets and the emergence of new talent, as demonstrated by Lankeshar’s immediate impact for Middlesbrough and Magennis’s clutch performance for Stevenage. As the competition progresses, supporters can expect more thrilling encounters, dramatic late winners, and the chance for lower‑league clubs to test themselves against higher‑ranked opposition, all under the bright lights of the Carabao Cup.