The Carabao Cup, or EFL Cup, has long provided thrilling football moments, offering clubs a chance to secure silverware. While not as prestigious as the FA Cup, it has seen surprising champions like Swansea City and Birmingham City in recent years. Over time, the competition has made key adjustments to its rules, especially regarding how ties are decided when a match ends in a draw after 90 minutes.
Carabao Cup Extra Time Rules
In the Carabao Cup, extra time is not used until the semifinal stage. For matches from the First Round through the quarterfinals, if the score is level at the end of 90 minutes, the game moves directly to a penalty shootout. This change was introduced during the 2018/19 season to reduce player fatigue, especially since many of these matches occur midweek.
However, in the second leg of the semifinals and the final, if the match is tied at the end of regulation, the game will proceed to extra time. If it remains tied after those 30 minutes, it will be decided by penalties.
Do Carabao Cup Matches Go to Penalties?
Yes, Carabao Cup matches from the First Round to the quarterfinals go straight to a penalty shootout if tied after 90 minutes. The penalty format is the traditional one, but the cup previously experimented with the ABBA penalty system in the 2017/18 season. This format, where teams alternated after the first penalty (e.g., team A takes one, team B takes two, team A takes two), was discontinued after that season.
Penalties have often decided crucial matches in the Carabao Cup. For instance, in the 2023/24 quarterfinals, Chelsea and Fulham advanced via penalties after defeating Newcastle United and Everton, respectively.
Are There Replays in the Carabao Cup?
No, the Carabao Cup does not use replays at any stage of the competition. Replays were phased out in the 1990s. Matches are instead resolved by penalties or, in the case of semifinals and finals, extra time followed by penalties if necessary.
The semifinals are the only part of the tournament where teams play over two legs. However, there is no away goals rule, so if the aggregate score is tied after both legs, the game proceeds to extra time and penalties if needed.
Is VAR Used in the Carabao Cup?
VAR is used sparingly in the Carabao Cup. It is not utilized before the semifinal stage in the 2024/25 season, and even in the semifinals, it will only be used if all venues have the necessary technology. If a lower league team without VAR capabilities reaches the semifinals, VAR will not be implemented until the 2025 final at Wembley Stadium on March 16.