Bradford City Stun Burnley in Carabao Cup Shootout: McCracken the Hero as Bantams Maintain Perfect Start
In a thrilling Carabao Cup encounter at Valley Parade, Bradford City edged out Burnley 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes, sending the Clarets crashing out of the competition. The match, which took place on Wednesday night, was a tightly contested affair, with both sides creating chances but failing to find the back of the net. The decisive moment came in the shootout, where Bradford’s goalkeeper, McCracken, emerged as the hero by saving Burnley’s fifth penalty from Bruun Larsen, while the Bantams converted all four of their spot-kicks to seal a memorable victory.nnThe win extends Bradford City’s perfect start to the season, piling more early pressure on Burnley following their relegation from the Premier League. Burnley, who had suffered a 3-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in their previous Championship outing, were looking to bounce back in the cup, but Bradford’s resilience and clinical penalty-taking proved too much. The match saw Burnley’s head coach, Hayen, make a quadruple attacking change with ten minutes remaining, signaling his intent to push for a winner. One of those substitutes nearly made an immediate impact, but Bradford held firm to force the shootout.nnFor Burnley, this exit from the Carabao Cup adds to a challenging start to their 2026/27 campaign. The Clarets have been active in the transfer market, with new signings such as centre-back Ahmedhodžić, midfielder Delfim Luwawu, and goalkeeper Coudert joining the ranks, but results on the pitch have yet to reflect the squad’s potential. The defeat at Bradford will undoubtedly raise questions about the team’s mentality and ability to handle pressure, especially after their relegation from the top flight.nnBradford City, on the other hand, will be buoyed by this result as they continue their impressive run. The Bantams, who are competing in League Two, have shown they can compete with higher-tier opposition, and this victory will give them confidence for the rest of the season. The match also highlighted the depth of talent in the lower leagues, with Bradford’s penalty shootout composure a testament to their character. As the Carabao Cup
Shimanta Das 
