Ojo comes off the bench to send Port Vale through
Last updated on 2 hours ago.From the section League Cup
Port Vale reached the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for just the second time in their history as they left it late to see off the EFL's bottom club Sutton United.
Josh Thomas put Vale ahead just after half-time and, after Hisham Kasimu equalised on 70 minutes, Funso Ojo came off the bench to win it with a 20-yard blast late on.
On their best run in the competition since reaching the EFL, Sutton had ousted League One opposition in the previous two rounds but have claimed just one point in eight league matches since winning on the opening day.
Vale will be in the hat along with the big guns for Wednesday's draw, with last-16 ties set to take place in the week commencing 30 October.
Rhys Walters sent an early effort for Vale straight at Us keeper Jack Rose while Dion Pereira fired wide at the other end after a good ball from Omari Patrick.
Vale's Jason Lowe headed narrowly over and Tom Sang was off target from a Gavin Massey pass but Pereira came even closer for the visitors, being denied by keeper Connor Ripley who raced off his line as Pereira went through on goal.
The hosts finally broke the deadlock four minutes after the break when Craig Eastmond was caught in possession by Walters after a Sutton corner allowing the hosts to spring a counter attack which ended with Thomas firing a low shot past Rose.
Sutton's Aiden O'Brien rattled the bar moments before the visitors went level when Kasimu burst onto a long ball and rifled past Ripley.
In the closing stages, Rose superbly denied on-loan Tottenham teenager Alfie Devine's effort from a low Conor Grant cross but within seconds of coming off the bench, Ojo lashed a shot from outside the area past Rose and into the bottom corner with seven minutes left.
Vale's James Wilson blazed over in stoppage time but it did not matter as his side progressed to the fourth round for the first time in 17 years.
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Ripley2Cass5BalmerSubstituted forPlantat 81'minutes3JonesSubstituted forDebrahat 69'minutes19Massey16Lowe24WaltersSubstituted forOjoat 81'minutes15Grant4SangSubstituted forChislettat 76'minutesBooked at 90mins11Devine44ThomasSubstituted forWilsonat 76'minutesSubstitutes6Smith7Clark8Garrity10Chislett13Leutwiler14Ojo21Plant27Debrah29WilsonFormation 4-5-1
1Rose23Jackson5GoodliffeBooked at 56minsSubstituted forHartat 88'minutes4Sowunmi22KizziBooked at 32mins18PereiraSubstituted forColeyat 69'minutes10Beautyman15EastmondSubstituted forO'Brienat 55'minutesBooked at 80mins8N'Guessan11Patrick33AngolBooked at 6minsSubstituted forKasimuat 55'minutesSubstitutes7Coley14Dundas19Fadahunsi21Bouzanis29Kasimu40O'Brien42HartReferee:Will Finnie
Attendance:4,113
Match ends, Port Vale 2, Sutton United 1.
Second Half ends, Port Vale 2, Sutton United 1.
Ethan Chislett (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Ethan Chislett (Port Vale).
Josh Coley (Sutton United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
James Plant (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Josh Coley (Sutton United).
Ethan Chislett (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Josh Coley (Sutton United).
Attempt missed. James Wilson (Port Vale) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Funso Ojo following a fast break.
James Wilson (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Christian N'Guessan (Sutton United).
Substitution, Sutton United. Sam Hart replaces Ben Goodliffe.
James Plant (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Josh Coley (Sutton United).
Goal! Port Vale 2, Sutton United 1. Funso Ojo (Port Vale) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alfie Devine.
Substitution, Port Vale. James Plant replaces Kofi Balmer.
Substitution, Port Vale. Funso Ojo replaces Rhys Walters.
Aiden O'Brien (Sutton United) is shown the yellow card.
Rhys Walters (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
