27 AUGUST 2025
OXFORD UNITED 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 6 -
CARABAO CUP, SECOND ROUND at
the KASSAM STADIUM, OXFORD.
As a change from their Premier League programme, the Albion travelled to Oxford to meet Sky Bet Championship side Oxford United in the Second Round of the Carabao Cup at the Kassam Stadium, the match being broadcast by BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out the Albion had lost 0-2 away at Everton on the 24 August and for their visit to Oxford Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler made eleven changes from the Everton game. Defenders Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli were handed their Albion debuts and young strikers Stefanos Tzimas (19), Charalampos Kostoulas (18) and Tommy Watson (19) found themselves sat on the Albion substitutes bench. Youngster Harry Howell made his first start for the Seagulls.
Oxford had made a poor start to their league campaign, losing all three of their league fixtures and Head Coach Gary Rowett made eight changes to his starting line-up from the team which lost 0-1 at Birmingham City on the 23 August.
Both teams started on the front foot and after 21 seconds Albion keeper Jason Steele made an excellent save to keep out a close-range volley from Przemyslaw Placheta and seconds later an Albion counter saw Matthew Ingram in the Oxford goal make a superb save to keep out a Diego Gomez piledriver. 65 seconds on the clock and an end-to-end encounter had unravelled.
After 12 minutes Brajan Gruda missed a great opportunity but a minute later the German set-up Olivier Boscagli whose deflected lob beat Ingram to put the Seagulls ahead. It was Boscagli's first goal for the Albion. 1-0.
On 20 minutes the Albion eased themselves further ahead when Gruda got on the end of Joel Veltman's delightful lobbed pass before thrashing the ball past Ingram for the Seagulls second. 2-0.
Both goalkeepers continued to see action and prior to the interval Ingram kept out Gruda's header and a fine save by Steele denied Mark Harris.
A breathtaking first-half. Half-time 2-0.
The second-half started with both teams on the offensive and Ferdi Kadioglu twice went close to increasing Albion's lead. On 60 minutes the Seagulls notched their third when Gomez tapped the ball home from Gruda's corner. 3-0.
With the game done and dusted the Albion made a triple substitution on 66 minutes with Carlos Baleba, Stefanos Tzimas and Tommy Watson replacing Jack Hinshelwood, Gomez and Kadioglu. Tzimas and Watson were making their Albion debuts. Tzimas made an instant impact as on 71 minutes he latched on to Harry Howell's through ball to race clear of the Oxford back four to drill the ball past the exposed Ingram for his first goal for the Albion. 4-0.
On 77 minutes the same pair combined for the Seagulls fifth as Howell sent Tzimas clear for the 19 year-old to notch his second. What a start for Tzimas on his Albion debut - two goals in the space of eleven minutes. 5-0.
The Seagulls made a double change on 78 minutes, with Charlie Tasker and Charalampos Kostoulas replacing Veltman and Captain James Milner. It was Kostoulas Albion debut. Tommy Watson then decided to make his mark, as the 19 year-old former Sunderland winger made space on the left before scoring with a superb shot on his Albion debut. 6-0.
A night of clinical finishing by the Albion and their reward is a trip to Barnsley in the next round.
Final-score 6-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 19 attempts at goal, with 9 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 8.
Oxford had 19 attempts at goal, with 11 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 7.
VERDICT - A totally changed Albion line-up powered their way to the Third Round of the Carabao Cup, with three debutants scoring their first goals for the Seagulls. Goalkeeper Jason Steele made a series of fine saves (10) for the Albion and up front debutant striker Stefanos Tzimas scored two fine goals first time out.
Albion travel to Barnsley in the Third Round.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason STEELE; Joel VELTMAN (Charlie TASKER 78), Diego COPPOLA, Olivier BOSCAGLI, Igor JULIO; James MILNER (Capt) (Charalampos KOSTOULAS 78), Jack HINSHELWOOD (Carlos BALEBA 66); Diego GOMEZ (Stefanos TZIMAS 66), Harry HOWELL, Ferdi KADIOGLU (Tommy WATSON 66); Brajan GRUDA.
Subs not used: Tom McGILL (G/K), Tariq LAMPTEY, Matt O'RILEY, Freddie SIMMONDS.
Oxford United line-up (5-4-1):- Matthew INGRAM; Matthew PHILLIPS (Luke HARRIS 66). Jack CURRIE, Brodie SPENCER (Louie SIBLEY 54), Elliott MOORE, Sam LONG; Stenley MILLS, Will VAULKS, Cameron BRANNAGAN (Capt) (Brian DE KEERSMAECKER 67), Przemylaw PLACHETA (Nik PRELEC 67); Mark HARRIS (Thomas BRADSHAW 83).
Subs not used: Jamie CUMMING (G/K), Tyler GOODRHAM, Leo SNOWDEN, Hidde TER AVEST.
Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Fourth Official: Lee Swabey.
Yellow Card: Oxford United: 1 - Stanley Mills.
Possession: Albion - 62%. Oxford United - 38%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Stefanos Tzimas (Albion).
Attendance: 9010 (including 1510 Albion fans).
NEXT GAME:
31 AUGUST 2025 - MANCHESTER CITY - HOME - PREMIER LEAGUE -KICK-OFF 14.00. "LIVE" ON SKY SPORTS. Latest news - Brighton 2 - Manchester City 1
Jack Kaye.
31 August 2025.