Wolves U21s 1 Sunderland U21s 1 (4-3 on pens) - Report and pictures

Nicu Carnat struck the winning penalty as Wolves edged the shoot-out 4-3.

Sylvain Deslandes had earlier missed his spot kick but two great saves from Harry Burgoyne got Wolves back into it and Carnat finished things off.

MORE: Watch the highlights here

The game had finished 1-1 although Wolves created far more chances than the visitors.

Bright Enobakhare broke the deadlock early on with a fine individual goal but Sunderland equalised almost immediately through Thomas Beadling's long-range stunner.

Analysis

The Checkatrade Trophy is probably the most unpopular competition in English football - but Wolves are absolutely loving it, writes Tim Spiers at Molineux.

Scott Sellars' young charges are now in the last 16 and just three wins from an unlikely trip to Wembley.

They may have needed penalties in front of a far healthier crowd of 1,118 (more than double the attendance for the group stage win over Accrington Stanley).

But they fully deserved this victory against a team one league above them in the youth football pyramid.

Wolves' superior class, quality and fitness told and it would have been a travesty had they been knocked out.

In front of the watching Paul Lambert, Bright Enobakhare again showed that he has outgrown youth football with a dazzling display of speed and trickery, creating chances from nothing and scoring his third goal of the competition in four matches.

Captain Connor Ronan, young 16-year-old starlet Morgan Gibbs-White and midfielder Will Randall also impressed, while athletic goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne was the hero with two excellent penalty saves.

The first half was as evenly-contested as they come, with the sides trading early goals and then cancelling each other out for long spells.

It was in the last 20 minutes that Sellars' young charges began to exert their dominance, with their superior fitness levels giving them an edge.

They hit a post through Randall and the excellent Enobakhare - who seems to take on defenders just for the hell of it - came close on a couple of occasions, but Wolves couldn't find that elusive winner.

Not that it mattered. It was straight to penalties and, despite falling behind after Deslandes' kick was saved, their spirit shone through.

The shoot-out ended in memorable scenes that these youngsters will never forget. These kids are making a name for themselves and will fear no one in the next round, be it another youth team or a league team.

Catch these kids while you can - they are a joy to watch.

Key moments

10 - First real look at goal for Wolves as Will Randall squeeze a shot just past the post.

13 - GOAL - It's that man Bright Enobakhare who puts Wolves in front with a typically dazzling goal. He tiptoes his way around the Sunderland box and then rounds experienced goalkeeper Vito Mannone with ease before tapping home.

15 - Sunderland's Joshua Maja gets in behind the Wolves defence and smacks his shot off the post.

17 - GOAL - A very different but equally brilliant goal as Thomas Beadling takes aims from range and leathers a stonking shot into the corner to level things up.

28 - Wolves are forced into an early change as Regan Upton is stretchered off with what looks to be a serious injury. Anthony Breslin comes on and Sylvain Deslandes moves inside to centre half.

69 - Enobakhare has defenders seeing stars again. He somehow keeps the ball and then tries to cut-back from six-yard box - it hits defender Thomas Robson and bounces off the keeper to safety.

82 - Enobakhare again goes close. He works himself into a shooting position six yards out, from a tight angle, but Mannone saves.

85 - Morgan Gibbs-White loops over his head for Randall to latch onto, he races into the box and clips the far post with his shot from 15 yards. So unlucky.

SUNDERLAND PEN 1 - Robson, scored

WOLVES PEN 1 - Ronan, scored

SUNDERLAND PEN 2 - Lawson, scored

WOLVES PEN 2 - Deslandes, saved

SUNDERLAND PEN 3 - Maja, scored

WOLVES PEN 3 - Enobakhare, scored

SUNDERLAND PEN 4 - Molyneux, saved

WOLVES PEN 4 - Gibbs-White, scored

SUNDERLAND PEN 5 - Honeyman, saved

WOLVES PEN 5 - Carnat, scored

Teams

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Burgoyne; Simpson, Upton (Breslin, 28), Johnson, Deslandes; Ronan, Carnat; Herc, Enobakhare, Randall; Gibbs-White. Subs: Brown, Leak, Levingston, Finnie, Armstrong, Delacoe.

Sunderland: Mannone, J Robson, T Robson, Ledger, Brady, Beadling (Molyneux, 80), E Robson, Embleton (Nelson, 72), Honeyman, Asoro (Lawson, 90), Maja. Subs: Talbot, Pybus, Wright, Casey.

Attendance: 1,118

Referee: Mark Heywood (West Yorkshire)