Ipswich need extra-time to overcome Doncaster
Ipswich scored three goals in extra-time to clinch a hard-fought 4-1 Capital One Cup second-round victory and end injury-hit Doncaster's brave resistance.
Rovers went in front with a 23rd minute goal from Andy Williams and played some excellent football before the Tractor Boys hit back with a 58th minute equaliser from Brett Pitman.
There was little to choose between the sides until Ipswich raised their game in extra time with David McGoldrick heading home in the 102nd minute before seeing another goalbound effort deflected in by team-mate James Alabi three minutes later.
Ryan Fraser sealed victory when he fired home in the 113th minute.
Ipswich made a lively start and should have had at least one goal to show for their attacking play in the first 15 minutes.
Teenage defender Josh Yorwerth had a shot parried by Thorsten Stuckmann following a sixth-minute corner and the home keeper was at full stretch again to save a low shot from McGoldrick eight minutes later.
The best chance fell to Pitman in the 15th minute when he was sent racing clear by McGoldrick but fired well wide of the mark with only the keeper to beat.
Doncaster had their backs to the wall and they suffered another injury blow in the 19th minute when Northern Ireland defender Luke McCullough limped off to be replaced by teenager Mitchell Lund after only 19 minutes.
But it was the home side who went ahead against the run of play four minutes later.
Cedric Evina delivered a splendid cross from the left after a Rovers free-kick had only been partially cleared and Williams drove the ball home in fine style from a difficult angle.
The goal did wonders for Rovers' confidence and they began to dictate the pace playing some excellent football.
A superb move involving Richie Wellens and Richard Chaplow led to a chance for James Coppinger in the 35th minute but his close-range effort was deflected at the expense of a corner.
Ipswich had a chance to level the scores in the 39th minute when they broke out of defence and Pitman raced clear before trying to lob advancing keeper Stuckmann.
The ball hit the crossbar and McGoldrick was unable to take advantage when it rebounded to his feet.
There were more injury woes for Doncaster when centre-half and skipper Rob Jones failed to come out for the second half and was replaced by another teenager Billy Whitehouse.
It meant a reshuffle in defence and Stuckmann had to make a double save to deny Pitman when Ipswich immediately tried to cash in.
But the home side missed a chance to increase their lead in the 51st minute when a brilliant pass from Curtis Main sent Williams away only for him to fire straight at the keeper.
Whitehouse forced a fine save from Dean Gerken in the 57th minute but Ipswich equalised a minute later when Pitman slammed the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.
The tie went into extra-time after Stuckmann produced a great save to deny Larsen Toure a last-minute winner, and Ipswich progressed when McGoldrick headed them ahead late in the first period before Alabi and Fraser made sure in the second.
Source: PA
