Charlton Athletic v Brighton & Hove Albion Live Commentary & Result, 21/12/22, League Cup

That's all from The Valley today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!

Still being serenaded by their success-starved supporters, Charlton will be in the quarter-final draw, to be made tomorrow. The next tie in their EFL Cup adventure will take place in the week commencing 9 January 2023.

It's a glorious result for Charlton Athletic, as the League One strugglers topple top-flight Brighton and reach the EFL Cup quarter-finals for just the second time in their history. Having fiercely fought to defend their goal throughout 90 minutes of a largely backs-to-the-wall display, the Addicks - still under caretaker management - prevailed in a penalty shootout which featured several misses and one crucial save from reserve goalkeeper Maynard-Brewer. Brighton's dreams of silverware are dashed, and their return from the World Cup break ends in misery.

Driving his penalty into the top-right corner, Lavelle puts Charlton through to the last eight of the EFL Cup! It ends 4-3 after sudden death in the shootout!

A. Maynard-Brewer

Penalty Save

Diving to his right, Maynard-Brewer makes a save which sets up the chance for his side to win the shootout!

SAVE! Caicedo sends his penalty towards the bottom-left of the goal, but Maynard-Brewer reads it and makes a flying save! Charlton are one kick away from the quarter-finals!

Sessegnon handles the pressure and sends Steele the wrong way. Charlton are still in it at 3-3 in the shootout!

Lamptey puts Brighton back in front - blasting the ball past Maynard-Brewer with aplomb!

Blackett-Taylor draws Charlton level at 2-2! Despite some gamesmanship from Steele, he strokes the ball into the left side of the net.

MISS! Another failure from the spot! March blazes over with an awful attempt from 12 yards!

J. Steele

Penalty Save

Steele makes another shootout stop, by repelling Rak-Sakyi's shot.

MISS! An unconvincing run-up sees Rak-Sakyi produce a tame shot, which is saved by Steele!

Dunk puts Brighton 2-1 ahead - just squeezing the ball beyond Maynard-Brewer and into the bottom-right corner. That was close!

J. Steele

Penalty Save

Steele saves Dobson's weak penalty to his left.

MISS! Dobson strikes his penalty too centrally, and Steele is able to palm the ball away!

Young substitute Ferguson gets Brighton off the mark by thumping his kick into the left side of the net: 1-1!

Forster-Caskey finally scores the first penalty of the shootout - firing the ball into the right-hand side of the net and putting League One Charlton 1-0 up!

MISS! A third straight miss in the shootout! Trossard powers his shot against the crossbar, and it bounces down and clear of Maynard-Brewer's goal!

MISS! Stockley takes Charlton's first penalty, but he strikes the ball against the right-hand post: it stays 0-0!

MISS! Gross steps up for the first spot-kick, but after a staggered run-up, he thuds the ball against the left-hand post!

90' + 8' FULL-TIME: CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0-0 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

90' + 7' The referee blows his whistle for full-time, and we are going to penalties!

90' + 6' Inniss draws a foul from Dunk, as the pair grapple inside the Charlton box, and a huge cheer resonates around The Valley!

90' + 4' Sessegnon is alert enough to cut out Lamptey's low cross from the right, and Charlton are now standing on the brink of forcing this cup tie to penalties.

90' + 2' On the break, Blackett-Taylor sees a chance open up on the left side of the area, but he dwells too long on the ball and fails to produce a shot at goal.

90' There are seven additional minutes to be played for stoppages! The Charlton fans let out a brief groan before resuming their noisy support of a brave home side.

88' Another inviting cross from deep on the left flank by Estupinan picks out March, who is unmarked at the back post. He takes a tired touch, though, and loses control of the ball.

86' After failing to make the most of an opening just beforehand, Trossard is caught narrowly offside when trying to latch onto Estupinan's ball across from the left.

84' Maynard-Brewer falls gratefully on the ball inside his six-yard box, as Charlton's brave resistance continues. They are so close now, but can the League One club cling on?

82' Lamptey's cross along the box is picked up by Rak-Sakyi, who is back helping out Charlton's defence, but the young forward slips and apparently brings down Estupinan, who had pounced on the loose ball. No penalty is awarded, though - much to Brighton's obvious dismay!

80' A driving run by Estupinan into the box from the left hand side ends with a dangerous low cross, which somehow evades a mass of bodies in the six-yard box and runs through to the other side.

E. Ferguson

D. Undav

79' Having faded over the past few minutes, Undav is replaced by Ferguson.

79' SAVE! Another fine stop from stand-in goalkeeper Maynard-Brewer keeps Charlton level! On this occasion, Trossard sees an effort which is scudding towards the bottom-right corner turned behind for a corner!

77' Trying his luck from nearly 25 yards out, Forster-Caskey sees a free-kick thud into Brighton's defensive wall.

J. Forster-Caskey

S. Fraser

75' After a substantial delay, Fraser admits defeat and gives way because of injury. Former Brighton man Forster-Caskey comes on instead.

73' Fraser remains down on the turf in need of some medical attention, bringing the action to a halt. He seems to be nursing a knee problem.

71' March plays in Caicedo on the edge of the area, but the Ecuadorian's strike is sent spiralling over the crossbar as Maynard-Brewer watches it sail over his head.

70' It's all Brighton again, as the Premier League side press on in search of an elusive goal - can Charlton hold out for penalties?

J. Stockley

C. Aneke

68' Shortly after his introduction as a substitute, Aneke has to limp off due to injury; Stockley is his replacement.

65' Only moments after his arrival from the bench, Aneke pulls up injured, clutching his hamstring. The game comes to a halt as he lies prone on the turf - it doesn't look good for the forward.

C. Blackett-Taylor

J. Payne

63' Blackett-Taylor comes on for Payne to bolster the Addicks' forward line.

C. Aneke

M. Leaburn

63' Charlton respond to their visitors' substitutions: Leaburn is replaced by Aneke up front.

P. Estupiñán

B. Gilmour

62' Gilmour also makes way, as Estupinan comes on for the final half-hour.

L. Trossard

A. Lallana

62' Brighton make a couple of changes. First, Lallana is replaced by Trossard.

61' MISS! After Lamptey breaks through on the left, the ball finds March more than 20 yards out. His jinking run through three tired Charlton challenges sees the goal open up in front of him, but a wayward shot sends the ball wide of the left-hand post. What a chance! Somehow, it remains goalless at The Valley!

59' SUPER STOP! Reserve keeper Maynard-Brewer makes another smart save, this time tipping over Colwill's header from close range! The Brighton defender met a Gross free-kick from the right with a firm connection, but is denied!

57' Undav has been enjoying linking up with Mitoma on the left since the latter's introduction at half-time, and the pair are clearly targeting Chin. So far, the young defender is coping well enough with their threat.

55' Charlton have now failed to score a first-half goal in all four of their EFL Cup matches this season - no other team has reached this stage without managing a single strike before the break.

53' Charlton scramble the ball away again, as the fleet-footed Mitoma again skins Chin on the left - this time Inniss is able to clear his lines.

51' SAVE! Stretching down to his right, Maynard-Brewer palms away a stinging effort from Undav, taken from just outside the box. Then he makes a more routine stop to keep out Gilmour's shot.

49' Payne and Fraser combine well on the left side of the area, but the latter just can't find Leaburn with a low cross, and Brighton get the ball away to safety.

47' March sends over a corner from the left, but when the ball breaks to Lamptey on the edge of the area, the full-back's tame shot curls straight into the gloves of Maynard-Brewer.

K. Mitoma

J. Enciso

46' A half-time change sees De Zerbi swap Enciso for Mitoma, who has spent most of the last month in Qatar with Japan.

46' Charlton kick off, and we are back under way at The Valley! Which side will make the quarter-finals?

Brighton enjoyed some 78 per cent of possession during the first half, but produced only a single shot on target. Dunk has proved an aerial threat, though, and has twice headed wide following corners - perhaps a potential source of goals after the interval.

Despite dominating the ball and often penning their lower-division hosts inside the penalty area, Brighton have failed to carve out many gilt-edged chances in this last-16 tie. Indeed, Charlton have managed more shots on target than their Premier League counterparts; combining brave defending with some speedy breaks on the counter. The gulf in quality has been clear, but Lallana's clip of the crossbar aside, the Seagulls have failed to soar so far today - will De Zerbi be forced to turn to his talent-packed bench after the break?

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0-0 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

45' At speed, Rak-Sakyi sets off a Charlton counter, and though Leaburn rather loses his way on the left flank, the young forward wins a corner right at the end of the first half.

43' After Sessegnon concedes a corner, Gross sends over an outswinging ball which Dunk nods well wide of the far post from near the penalty spot.

41' Maynard-Brewer unconvincingly palms away a dangerous driven cross from the left flank, before Caicedo and Undav both find themselves crowded out by some committed Charlton defending.

39' Rak-Sakyi slips through Sessegnon on the left side of the area, but a well-timed sliding block by Dunk saves Brighton's skins; conceding a corner.

37' The pause for Steele's injury assessment seems to have stalled Brighton's momentum, as Charlton take the chance to push a few precious yards upfield.

35' Having been brought down by Leaburn's late challenge, Steele receives treatment from the Brighton medical staff; bringing the game to a temporary halt. Soon after, he is passed fit to carry on.

M. Leaburn

Yellow Card

34' Attempting to latch on to a loose ball ahead of Steele inside the Brighton box, Leaburn clips the goalkeeper with an outstretched boot and is booked.

32' Continuing to soak up pressure, Charlton survive again, as a spell of head tennis on the edge of their area is ended by the assistant's flag being raised for an offside.

30' A delightful clipped ball over the top of Charlton's deep defence by Gross picks out Gilmour's run, but the unmarked midfielder can't gather the ball into his stride and a good chance is spurned.

28' An ambitious sweeping pass over to the left by Dunk skids out of play on the Charlton byline, as Enciso narrowly fails to make contact.

26' Easing the building pressure on his team's penalty area, Fraser demonstrates neat footwork to extricate himself from a tight spot - beating two Brighton forwards and playing the ball clear.

24' SAVE! Steele is forced into action, as Payne bursts through a packed midfield and lets fly with a low drive from 20 yards. It's too centrally placed, though, and the goalkeeper completes a routine save. Still, it gives the Charlton fans something to cheer about.

22' Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2017, Brighton have won all seven of their EFL Cup ties versus sides from a lower division - and by an aggregate score of 16-1. Meanwhile, Charlton have won just one of their last 11 against top-flight opponents in the competition.

20' Just outside his area, Maynard-Brewer contrives a clearance with his chest under pressure from two Brighton players - only narrowly avoiding handling the ball - and Charlton clear their lines. The hosts are hanging on here, and it seems like just a matter of time before their top-flight opponents break through.

18' Still, the Seagulls flood forward, and March sees a left-footed shot from the left side of the box saved comfortably enough by Maynard-Brewer.

16' OFF THE BAR! Pouncing on a weak clearance, Lallana turns sharply in the box to lose his marker before cracking a curling shot off the crossbar, near the top-left of Charlton's goal! An excellent attempt, but there's no reward!

15' After Payne lays a ball off to Fraser on the left flank, the latter sends a cross too close to Steele, who easily plucks the ball out of the night sky.

13' On the counter-attack, March drifts in from the right and unleashes a shot at goal from outside the box, but sees it blocked by the boot of a red-shirted Charlton defender.

11' Lallana just fails to build a sharp throughball under control on the edge of Charlton's area, and the ball trickles harmlessly through to the waiting Maynard-Brewer.

9' Undav's endeavour forces Inniss to concede a corner, as the Brighton pressure continues to build on their League One opponents. However, Maynard-Brewer claims the ball comfortably in the air from the subsequent set-piece.

8' Following up on a crucial clearance by Inniss on the edge of his own area, Caicedo drives a wild shot over the crossbar from more than 20 yards out.

6' From an inswinging corner by March, it's Dunk who climbs highest at the back post, but his header is angled well wide of the left-hand post. That was a presentable chance for the visitors, who have started well in the face of some noisy Charlton support.

5' Chin stands his ground on the left byline to guide the ball out of play for a goal-kick, as Enciso tries to sneak in and steal the ball inside the Charlton area.

3' Following a dangerous Sessegnon cross to the back post from the left flank, Steele has to back-pedal and gather the ball under pressure from Payne and Leaburn inside his six-yard box.

1' Brighton kick off, and we are under way in South London!

The players are out on the pitch at The Valley, and kick-off is now just moments away!

After scoring twice in the friendly with Aston Villa, Undav starts in an unfamiliar Brighton lineup, and Enciso features up front in the absence of injured striker Danny Welbeck. World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister is also absent as he celebrates Argentina's success, but Lamptey, Trossard, Mitoma and Ecuadorian trio Sarmiento, Caicedo and Estupinan are all involved - though most start on the bench.

Charlton goalkeeper Joe Wollacott is still sidelined by the broken finger that denied him a place in Ghana's World Cup squad, while deputy MacGillivray returns to the bench after illness ruled him out last weekend; Maynard-Brewer starts instead. Meanwhile, Leaburn - a substitute on Saturday - is promoted to the hosts' forward line, with Blackett-Taylor among those to make way.

SUBS: Tom McGill, Jan-Paul van Hecke, Leandro Trossard, Evan Ferguson, Joel Veltman, Jeremy Sarmiento, Andrew Moran, Kaoru Mitoma, Pervis Estupinan.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (4-2-3-1): Jason Steele; Pascal Gross, Levi Colwill, Lewis Dunk, Tariq Lamptey; Billy Gilmour, Adam Lallana; Solly March, Deniz Undav, Moises Caicedo; Julio Enciso.

SUBS: Craig MacGillivray, Charlie Kirk, Chuks Aneke, Jayden Stockley, Albie Morgan, Zach Mitchell, Corey Taylor, Jake Forster-Caskey, Tyreece Campbell.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC (5-3-2): Ashley Maynard-Brewer; Richard Chin, Ryan Inniss, Lucas Ness, Sam Lavelle, Steven Sessegnon; Jack Payne, George Dobson, Scott Fraser; Jesuran Rak-Sakyi, Miles Leaburn.

While Brighton will resume their Premier League campaign sitting seventh in the table, before they take on Southampton at the weekend they now seek to take one step closer to a first piece of major silverware. The Seagulls slipped to a 2-1 home loss against Aston Villa just before the World Cup intervened, and the Villans were also their opponents in a 2-2 friendly draw earlier this month. Roberto De Zerbi's side had beaten both Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their two previous league games, in addition to knocking Premier League leaders Arsenal out of the EFL Cup. Like today's hosts, Brighton are looking to reach the quarter-finals for just a second time - and the first since 1979.

Having lost three straight matches and exited two cup competitions during the past month, Charlton are on a run of six games without a win since progressing past Stevenage in the EFL Cup third round. Today, caretaker manager Anthony Hayes concludes his stint in the dugout, ahead of new boss Dean Holden's first fixture at the weekend. The Addicks' most recent run-out was a 2-1 home defeat to League One rivals Bristol Rovers, but they are now aiming to cause an upset and reach the League Cup quarter-finals for just the second time.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's EFL Cup fourth round tie between Charlton Athletic and Brighton at The Valley!

Charlton Athletic v Brighton & Hove Albion Live Commentary, 22/12/22

Key Events

Match Stats

Commentary