Josh Gordon saw his penalty tipped onto the crossbar by Joe Whitworth in the 82nd minute as Walsall looked destined to fall to a 1-0 defeat after Millenic Alli had opened the scoring for Exeter in the first half.
But substitute Jamie Jellis equalised in the third minute of second half stoppage time to score his first goal for the club from Jack Earing’s deflected cross.
Exeter City ‘nowhere near good enough’ as Grecians exit EFL Cup on penalties
Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell admitted the Grecians’ performance was nowhere near the standards they set for themselves as they were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the first round. City were beaten on penalties by League Two Walsall on Tuesday night after the game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Millenic Alli’s goal just before half-time, when the Irishman flicked home from close range after a Caleb Watts cross, had given the Grecians a then-deserved lead. But they were way off the pace in the second half as the Saddlers grew into the game.
They should have levelled in the 80 th minute after Vincent Harper’s handball handed them a penalty. But Joe Whitworth brilliantly denied Josh Gordon, pushing the spot-kick onto the crossbar.
However, in the 93 rd minute, Jamie Jellis guided home a finish from 12 yards out to make it 1-1 and send the tie to penalties. Jack Earing blazed his spot-kick over the bar to put City ahead. But after Ilmari Niskanen saw his effort saved, and Alli hit the post, Gordon atoned for his miss in normal time by slotting home the winning penalty to put Walsall through and City out 4-3 on penalties.
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