EFL TROPHY REPORT | AFC Wimbledon 2 Charlton 1

With attention focussed elsewhere, a young Charlton side lost their opening group game of the EFL Trophy to AFC Wimbledon at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Erhun Oztumer gave the Addicks a 22nd-minute lead with a wonderfully curled free-kick but second half goals from Adam Roscrow and Terrell Thomas were enough to secure three points for the hosts.

Lee Bowyer put out a team mixed with youth and experiencing with Deji Oshilaja captaining the Addicks against his former club. There was also a senior debut for 17-year-old defender Charles Barker – son of former Addicks’ Assistant Manager, Richie.

Charlton lined up in what looked like a 4-3-3 formation with Bowyer also handing a start to Aaron Henry, one day after his 17th birthday.

It was Charlton stopper Ashley Maynard-Brewer who was first called into action when he got down low to save from Ryan Longman in the third minute. Adam Roscrow then flashed an effort passed the post.

The Addicks took the lead in the 22nd minute in stunning style with Erhun Oztumer curling in a left-footed free kick from 25 yards out, netting his first goal for Charton.

The 29-year-old was inches away from a second in the 33rd minute but couldn’t quite get a touch on a Ben Dempsey cross from the left. 

Maynard-Brewer against did well when he was called into action in the 41st minute, making a superb save to keep out Shane McLoughlin’s point-blank header.

It took AFC Wimbledon just 13 seconds after the restart to equalize, with Roscrow neatly finishing off a swift counter-attack. 

Former Addick Terrell Thomas put the hosts in front in the 58th minute, rising highest at the back post to head in a set-piece.

Bowyer brought on first-teamers Macauley Bonne, Alfie Doughty and Jake Forster-Caskey, moving to a 4-4-2 formation, and the Addicks pressure increased.

After a blocked effort on the goalline, a George Lapslie cross to the back post found Josh Davison in space but the striker headed over from nine yards.

Then Doughty turned provider, setting up Ben Dempsey, whose shot from just outside the area looked destined for goal but deflected just over.

The Addicks were unable to make the increased pressure count as the game ended 2-1.

Wimbledon: Trueman, Nightingale (C), Thomas, Hartigan, Roscrow, Chislett, McLoughlin, Longman (Piggott 62), Kalambayi (Procter 62), Reilly (Woodyard 76), Osew

Subs (not used): Tzanev, O’Neill, Alexander, Guinness-Walker,

Goals: Roscrow 46, Thomas 58

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; Lapslie, Oshilaja (C), Barker, Purrington (Doughty 62); Oztumer (Bonne 62), Dempsey, Henry, Vennings, Morgan (Forster-Caskey 62); Davison 

Subs (not used): Amos,

Goal: Oztumer 22

Referee: Mr C Brook

Attendance: 0 (Behind-closed-doors)

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