EFL Cup: Wrexham Eliminated by Rivals Middlesbrough, Other Round 1 Results

Competitive football is back in full swing, and the first round of the EFL Cup continued on Friday night.

Following York's return to Football League action and Bristol City's earlier exit from the competition, Friday night's fixtures were highlighted by a clash between Middlesbrough and Wrexham, both aiming for Premier League promotion this season.

Fans also had the opportunity to watch other matches ahead of the new domestic campaign, including Wolves hosting Port Vale at Molineux and Wycombe facing Stevenage.

Middlesbrough 1-0 Wrexham

Will Lankshear's second-half goal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Middlesbrough over Wrexham at the Riverside Stadium, marking the visitors' first defeat of the season.

After a quiet first half with few clear chances, the game livened up after the break. Middlesbrough broke the deadlock in the 61st minute when Sebastian Berhalter assisted Lankshear, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Wrexham responded positively, with Nathan Broadhead's free-kick narrowly missing the crossbar. As Wrexham pressed for an equalizer in the closing stages, winning several corners, Middlesbrough's Sol Brynn made a save from Callum Doyle's shot. Morgan Whittaker hit the post on a counter-attack for Middlesbrough, and the home side held on for the win.

Wycombe 1-2 Stevenage

Stevenage secured a dramatic 2-1 victory at Adams Park, with Josh Magennis scoring a 95th-minute winner.

Alex Revell's team took a deserved lead in the first half through Dan Kemp, who finished from close range after Wycombe failed to clear a dangerous delivery. Filip Marschall made an excellent save to deny Daniel Harvie's header for Wycombe.

Wycombe improved after halftime and equalized just after the hour mark with a goal from Richard Kone. Despite Wycombe pushing for a winner, Stevenage remained dangerous on the counter and from set pieces. Their persistence paid off in added time when Phoenix Patterson's corner led to Magennis heading home the decisive goal.

Wolves 3-0 Port Vale

Wolves began their season convincingly with a comfortable 3-0 win over Port Vale at Molineux, thanks to early goals from Adam Armstrong, Andre, and Fer Lopez.

Armstrong opened the scoring in the 14th minute after good build-up play. Andre doubled the lead in the 34th minute with a header from a corner, and Lopez added a third before halftime from a Rodrigo Gomes cutback.

In the second half, Port Vale were awarded a penalty when Mo Faal was fouled, but Dan Bentley saved the spot-kick, preserving Wolves' clean sheet.

EFL Cup Round-up: Wrexham Eliminated by Rivals Middlesbrough

Competitive football is fully underway, and the first round of the EFL Cup concluded on Friday night.

After York made their return to the Football League and Bristol City was eliminated earlier in the week, Friday night's action was headlined by a match between Middlesbrough and Wrexham, two teams with ambitions for promotion to the Premier League this season.

Fans also had other matches to follow ahead of the new domestic campaign, including Wolves hosting Port Vale at Molineux and Wycombe facing Stevenage.

Middlesbrough 1-0 Wrexham

Will Lankshear's second-half strike proved decisive, giving Middlesbrough a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wrexham at the Riverside Stadium and handing the visitors their first defeat of the season.

Following a quiet opening period with limited clear-cut chances, the game came alive after the break as both sides sought a breakthrough.

Middlesbrough found it in the 61st minute when Sebastian Berhalter headed the ball into the path of Lankshear, who maintained his composure to score a low finish into the bottom corner.

Wrexham responded positively, with Nathan Broadhead's free-kick narrowly sailing over the crossbar.

The visitors piled on the pressure in the closing stages, winning a series of corners as Middlesbrough was forced onto the defensive. Lewis O’Brien had a shot blocked, and Callum Doyle tested Sol Brynn with a low effort from distance, but the Boro goalkeeper was equal to it.

Morgan Whittaker struck the post on the counter-attack as Middlesbrough threatened a second goal, and Wrexham's final attack fizzled out, allowing Middlesbrough to hold on and advance to the second round.

Wycombe 1-2 Stevenage

Stevenage stunned Wycombe as Josh Magennis headed home a 95th-minute winner to seal a 2-1 victory at Adams Park.

Alex Revell’s side took a deserved lead midway through the first half when Dan Kemp finished from close range after Wycombe failed to deal with a dangerous delivery.

The visitors continued to threaten and almost doubled their advantage before halftime, while Filip Marschall produced an excellent save to deny Daniel Harvie’s header at the other end.

Wycombe improved after the restart and eventually found a way back into the contest when Richard Kone fired home just after the hour mark to level the scores.

The hosts pushed for a winner, but Stevenage remained dangerous on the counter and looked more threatening from set pieces as the game entered stoppage time.

Their persistence paid off in the fifth minute of added time. Phoenix Patterson’s corner caused problems in the Wycombe box, and Magennis rose highest to power a close-range header into the bottom corner, sparking wild celebrations among the travelling supporters.

Wolves 3-0 Port Vale

Wolves made a confident start to their season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Port Vale at Molineux, with goals from Adam Armstrong, Andre, and Fer Lopez putting the hosts in control early on.

Armstrong opened the scoring in the 14th minute, finishing coolly from the centre of the box after good build-up play, and had already struck the right post three minutes before that in what was an encouraging first-half display from the hosts.

Andre doubled the advantage in the 34th minute, powering home a header from close range after Yerson Mosquera flicked on from a corner, before Lopez added a third just before the interval, slotting left-footed into the bottom corner from a Rodrigo Gomes cutback to put the game well beyond Port Vale’s reach.

The visitors showed some spirit in the second half and were awarded a penalty when Mosquera fouled Mo Faal in the area, but Dan Bentley produced a comfortable save to deny the Port Vale striker from 12 yards and preserve the clean sheet.