Peterborough United booked a place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time in 17 years after overcoming Barnsley 7-6 on penalties following a chaotic 3-3 draw.
The visitors made a flying start, taking the lead inside two minutes after Peterborough goalkeeper Alex Bass was put under pressure by Cameron McGeehan. Bass was unable to clear cleanly, the ball struck the crossbar and McGeehan reacted quickest to head home.
Peterborough recovered quickly and levelled in the 19th minute. Lucca Mendonca delivered from the flank, Barnsley goalkeeper Kieran Flavell could only push the ball into danger, and Harry Leonard was on hand to convert from close range.
The hosts then turned the tie around eight minutes later. Harley Mills sent in a free-kick and Danny Ormerod was left free to head Peterborough in front.
Barnsley responded before the interval, with Reyes Cleary providing the breakthrough. He escaped Mendonca down the left and finished calmly into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.
Cleary struck again in the 74th minute, curling Barnsley ahead for a second time and seemingly putting the visitors on course for the next round.
Peterborough, however, refused to let the tie slip away. With two minutes of normal time remaining, Mills supplied another dangerous cross and Ormerod rose to score his second header of the night, forcing the contest into a penalty shootout.
Both teams converted their opening six penalties before Bass produced the decisive moment, keeping out Luke Alker’s weak effort. Harrison Jones then stepped forward and scored Peterborough’s seventh penalty to seal a 7-6 shootout win.
The result sends Peterborough into the Carabao Cup fourth round for the first time since 2009 after one of the most dramatic ties of the round.