Colchester 0-0 Tottenham (4-3 pens): Premier League side stunned by League Two outfit
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This was only the second meeting between Colchester and Tottenham - but it is one that will never be forgotten in Essex
League Two Colchester United produced a huge upset as they beat Premier League Tottenham on penalties to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round.
The Essex side - the lowest-ranked team left in the competition - frustrated last year's semi-finalists throughout the 90 minutes and won a dramatic shootout after Christian Eriksen and Lucas Moura missed from the spot.
After Eriksen's first kick of the shootout was saved by Dean Gerken, the hosts looked to have wasted their advantage when Jevani Brown tried an audacious 'Panenka' effort, which was so weak that Paulo Gazzaniga was able to abort his dive, stand up and punch the ball to safety.
But when Moura smashed Tottenham's fifth effort against the bar, Tom Lapslie stepped up to send Colchester into the last 16 for the first time in 44 years and prompt wild celebrations.
The biggest upset of Pochettino's career
Tottenham's last major trophy came in the League Cup in 2008
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has yet to win a major trophy during his managerial career, despite an encouraging season in 2018-19 which featured an appearance in the Champions League final and making the last four of this competition.
But his wait for a trophy will go on after the biggest shock he has experienced as a manager.
The Argentine had taken charge of 18 domestic cup ties against lower-ranked opponents since arriving in England with Southampton in 2013 and had never lost.
Until now.
Spurs are on a gruelling run of seven games in 21 days but they could hardly blame tiredness for this result, with Pochettino making 10 changes from their defeat at Leicester - only keeper Gazzaniga kept his place.
There was a first outing of the season for out-of-favour Eric Dier, a return from injury for Dele Alli and debuts for 20-year-old centre-back Japhet Tanganga and 17-year-old forward Troy Parrott, but none pressed their claims to break into their manager's first-choice XI.
This defeat will only add to the sense of uncertainty around the club - BBC Radio 5 Live summariser Don Hutchison said before the game there was an "undercurrent of frustration" surrounding Pochettino and that it was hard to "see where the club is going".
Four wins in their past 17 matches suggests something is not quite right.
And what is going on with their away form? They are winless in all five games on the road this season, conceding two goals on four occasions and - most worryingly - now suffering an embarrassing exit from the EFL Cup.
Two down, how many to go?
Colchester fans invaded the pitch after Lapslie's penalty sealed the victory
Colchester had already produced one significant upset this season, winning on penalties at Crystal Palace in the second round.
Adding the scalp of Tottenham - who were eliminated by a team from a lower division in this competition for the first time since Grimsby achieved the feat in 2005-06 - means Colchester are the first side from outside the top flight to win shootouts against two top-tier sides in the same League Cup campaign since Bradford City in 2012-13. They went on to reach the final that season.
The bigger clubs routinely use this competition as a testing ground for squad members and younger players and, after beating a side ranked 70 places above them, John McGreal's men are unlikely to fear whoever they face when Wednesday's fourth-round draw is made.
They held their own in this game, despite Tottenham having 75% of possession and 19 shots. In truth, Colchester were rarely under serious pressure, with only four of those efforts on target.
Kyle Walker-Peters' cross-shot crashed against the post early in the second half but, as the game approached full-time and Pochettino brought on Son Heung-min, Eriksen and Lamela to add to the attacking power of Alli and Moura, Colchester looked as likely to break the deadlock.
As it turned out, they did not need to.
'It's worrying times for Tottenham' - what they said
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino: "Colchester made a fantastic game, it was difficult. We are so disappointed we could not score in 90 minutes.
"They beat Palace on penalties too, that can happen. That's the beauty of the competition, always something can happen.
"We wanted to go further but we are out."
Colchester manager John McGreal: "It's a fantastic night for the players and the club and even the staff.
"When you are coming up against the players of Tottenham's calibre, sometimes on these type of nights you need a bit of luck.
"It's a great occasion for us."
Former Bolton manager Owen Coyle on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's worrying times for Tottenham. They are already 10 points adrift in the league and so that is a huge ask. Then they ask can we win a trophy? This one has gone now.
"I do think they have to find a way to win games quickly. Mauricio Pochettino is a wonderful manager but a lot of those players have to stand up and take accountability."
What's next?
Tottenham will aim to improve on a faltering start which has earned them eight Premier League points from their opening six games - and left them in seventh place - when Pochettino's former club Southampton travel to north London on Saturday. Colchester travel to Macclesfield on Saturday hoping for a win that could take them into the League Two play-off places.