The round of 16 in Premier League 2 (PL2) got off to a flying start with 43 goals being scored from the eight matches that took place.
There was a nine-goal thriller between Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion, with the Blues edging the contest 5-4.
Meanwhile Tottenham Hotspur, who finished top of the PL2 standings, edged past Aston Villa 4-3; Arsenal put six past Manchester United in a 6-2 victory and Liverpool came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 3-2.
PL2 last-16 results
ARS
6–2
MUN
CHE
5–4
BHA
WHU
4–1
BLB
RDG
2–0
MID
LIV
3–2
CRY
TOT
4–3
AVL
SUN
4–1
WOL
FUL
0–2
NFO
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Arsenal 6-2 Man Utd
It was a straightforward match for Arsenal as they led 4-0 by half-time thanks to a Nathan Butler-Oyedeji brace plus goals from Jack Henry-Francis and April PL2 player-of-the-month nominee Amario Cozier-Duberry. Ethan Nwaneri added a fifth from the penalty spot and Cozier-Duberry scored again either side of goals from Sam Mather and Gabriele Biancheri.
Arsenal have booked a place in the quarter-finals against London rivals Chelsea.
A performance to be proud of ?
Watch the full highlights from our #PL2 play-off victory ?
— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) May 6, 2024
Chelsea 5-4 Brighton
There was little to separate Chelsea and Brighton as the Blues narrowly came out on top in a nine-goal spectacle. Another April player-of-the-month nominee Dujuan Richards scored twice for Chelsea while Joshua Duffus also netted a brace for Brighton. But it was Zain Silcott-Duberry who settled the tie, as he struck three minutes from the end of the second period of extra-time to set up a meeting with Arsenal in the next round.
West Ham 4-1 Blackburn
West Ham United eased past Blackburn Rovers with two of their four goals coming in a three-minute period. September and December PL2 Player of the Month winner Callum Marshall, back from a loan spell at West Bromwich Albion, rounded the proceedings with a goal in the 88th minute.
The Hammers are set to face Sunderland in the quarter-finals.
Our U21s put four past Blackburn last night to book their #PL2 Play-Off quarter-final spot ?
— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 4, 2024
Reading 2-0 Middlesbrough
Two goals in the space of six second-half minutes from Adrian Akande sealed Reading’s place in the quarter-finals against Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool 3-2 Crystal Palace
Liverpool showed great character to overturn a two-goal deficit and beat Palace 3-2. Kaide Gordon scored twice in a two-minute spell in the second half and Treymaurice Nyoni completed the turnaround to seal the Reds’ win.
They will match-up against Spurs in the quarter-finals.
Spurs 4-3 Aston Villa
Spurs needed extra-time to edge past Villa. January’s PL2 Player of the Month Will Lankshear scored twice in the 4-3 thriller, and provided the match-winning goal too.
Super @WillLankshear ? pic.twitter.com/APdHfMfSf4
— Tottenham Hotspur Academy (@Spurs_Academy) May 6, 2024
Sunderland 4-1 Wolves
Sunderland had to come from behind to progress to the next round as goals from Ben Middlemas, Trey Ogunsuyi, Tom Watson and Timur Tuterov gave them the win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Black Cats will host West Ham in the quarter-finals.
Fulham 0-2 Nott’m Forest
Goals in each half sealed Nott’m Forest’s place in the last eight as Detlef Esapa Osong struck in the 17th minute before Ateef Konate finished the scoring in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
They are now preparing to travel to Reading for a quarter-final face-off.
Quarter-finals (10-13 May)
Match 9: Spurs v Liverpool
Match 10: Arsenal v Chelsea
Match 11: Reading v Nott’m Forest
Match 12: Sunderland v West Ham
Semi-finals (17-20 May)
Match 13: Winner 9 v Winner 10
Match 14: Winner 11 v Winner 12
Final (24-27 May)
Winner 13 v Winner 14