Both FA Youth Cup ties on Friday evening went beyond 90 minutes, with Stoke City eventually edging out Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties after an enthralling encounter ended 2-2.
The hosts found themselves 2-0 down at the break – Daniel Mandroiu dispatching a penalty after Jayson Molumby was felled, before Jordan Davies tapped in a rebound from Reece Meekums’ initial shot.
But the Potters set up a grandstand finish on 76 minutes when Tyrese Campbell fired in an effort from the edge of the box, before Krisztofer Szereto won and scored an added-time penalty to make it 2-2.
And after a nip-and-tuck extra 30 minutes where chances were at a premium, it was Stoke’s Hungarian keeper Mate Deczki who was the hero.
He saved from both Mandroiu and Alex Cochrane – with Tom Edwards, Szereto, Jordan Greenidge, and Jake Dunwoody all on target for the hosts in the shootout which was won 4-2.
Meanwhile Leicester City booked a date at home to defending champions Chelsea in the quarter finals, but it took extra-time to see off a stubborn Middlesbrough.
City’s Layton Ndukwu had the first real sight of goal as he fired a volley straight at Zac Hemming, before Tyrone O'Neill’s shot was deflected wide and Connor Malley forced a save from Cameron Yates for the hosts.
But the complexion of the game changed completely when Boro’s James Cook was shown a straight red for a challenge on Lamine Kaba Sherif just before half-time, and while the hosts were up against it, Marcus Tavernier was denied by the woodwork on 64 minutes after he rose highest to meet a corner.
And with just four minutes of regular time remaining, Leicester also went down to 10 men when Kairo Arlott-Edwards was sent off for a challenge on Nathan Convery.
Extra-time loomed with the game still goalless, but despite their late setback Leicester finally took the lead in the 104th minute, and it was heartbreak for Boro as Simran Thandi’s strike was wickedly deflected past Hemming for the only goal of the game.
