The entertaining clash saw the scoreline move back and forth as goals from Liam Lindsay, Jordan Williams and Victor Adeboyejo cancelled out Rabbi Matondo’s strike and Ian Poveda’s brace.
As it went to a shoot-out, Philippe Sandler, Felix Nemcha, Matondo, Poveda and Colin Rosler all converted from the spot for the young Blues, while Tom Scott stepped up to save Mamadou Thiam’s attempt to reduce Barnsley to just three penalty goals.
What happened
As we’ve so often seen in this competition, our opposition’s physical presence was much larger than our mostly-teenage side.
Barnsley used their size and strength to their advantage, pushing us off the ball and going close a number of times in the opening moments of the game, with Brad Potts firing over the crossbar after just 10 minutes.
Jeremie Frimpong held his own throughout, and nearly registered an assist for birthday boy Taylor Richards who sprang onto the end of Frimpong’s cross and pushed the ball agonisingly wide.
Minutes after our first real chance, Barnsley went ahead.
Victor Adeboyejo was perfectly positioned to chip the ball over Tom Scott at the near post and into the bottom corner to give the hosts the advantage.
Daniel Stendel’s side continued to pile on the pressure and stop us from creating any real chances until the stroke of half-time when Rabbi Matondo broke through, slalomed around the defence, and slotted the ball into an open net from close range.
The second half was full of action as the pressure mounted.
City took the lead – albeit brief – on 58 minutes through a thunderous strike from Ian Carlo Poveda. The shot came from almost nowhere 40 yards out to take the young Blues ahead, but less than a minute later the hosts got their second goal of the game.
After a tussle at the mouth of goal, Jordan Williams was able to wriggle free from our defence and tap in past Scott to take it level once again.
Before the dust had settled, Barnsley had struck again – this time through Liam Lindsay, who appeared in the box and slotted a shot into the net to regain their first-half lead.
City’s third goal came soon after, with Matondo the architect. The Welsh winger burst down the left, performing a mesmerising mazy run around a sea of red shirts before pinpointing the oncoming Poveda.
Poveda made no mistake as he fired straight in the gap left for him by Adam Davies.
Again, it was level which meant only one thing when 90 minutes were up: A penalty shoot-out.
City stepped up to net all five of our penalties, while Scott’s save from Mamadou Thiam’s spot-kick proved crucial to see Barnsley convert just three of their attempts.
How we lined up
Thomas Scott took his place in goal shielded by a back four of Nathanael Ogbeta, Philippe Sandler, skipper Eric Garcia and Jeremie Frimpong.
Iker Pozo took his defensive midfield role alongside Taylor Richards and Adrian Bernabe.
Rabbi Matondo and Ian Poveda flanked Luke Bolton up front.
What it means
City will find out who they face in the third round on Saturday 8 December, with the next Checkatrade fixture set to be played in the week commencing 7 January 2019.
