EMIRATES FA CUP REPORT | AFC Wimbledon 3 Charlton 1

Charlton Athletic were knocked out of the Emirates FA Cup after losing 3-1 away at AFC Wimbledon despite a second goal in as many games for Karlan Ahearne-Grant.

Karl Robinson started with the side that finished the thrilling draw against Peterborough in mid-week with Anfernee Dijksteel, Joe Aribo and Karlan Ahearne-Grant replacing Patrick Bauer, Ahmed Kashi and Leon Best. 

Wimbledon had the first chance in just the second minute when Harry Forrester got in behind the Charlton defence from a clever free kick and dragged his shot from just inside the area narrowly wide. 

Charlton went up the other end and had their first chance in the sixth minute following some lovely neat play down the left. Ricky Holmes played in Jay Silva who cut back from the byline to Karlan Ahearne-Grant and his shot at goal was well blocked by Wimbledon goalkeeper George Long. 

The home side took a tenth minute lead when Cody McDonald pounced following a scramble that Chartlon were unable to clear. 

Lyle Taylor nearly doubled the visitors lead in the 11th minute when he got in behind Naby Sarr and tried to beat Ben Amos at his near post. His right-footed effort went in the side netting. 

Charlton levelled in the 22nd minute through Karlan Ahearne-Grant. A long ball from Amos was headed on by Josh Magennis, Ahearne-Grant collected and fed Marshall on the wing. The winger beat his full back and his driven effort was tapped in at the back post by the in-form Charlton academy graduate. 

The goal gave the Addicks impetus and another attack followed with Magennis eventually heading over a Jake Forster-Caskey cross after the visitors forced a corner. 

Amos was worked in the 37th minute when he got down quickly to his left to palm away a low Taylor effort from outside the Charlton box. 

Charlton nearly took the lead just before half time. Holmes fed Marshall on the counter attack who left his defender on the floor with a great bit of skill and pulled a cross from the byline to Magennis. His first time effort from inside the six yard box was blocked behind for a corner and the two sides went in level at half-time.

Charlton came out for the second half firing with a spell of pressure deep in Wimbledon territory with a Holmes toe and a Marshall drive both forcing saves from Long. 

The Addicks had an even better chance in the 49th minute, a deflected Dasilva effort was brilliantly palmed onto the post by Long and the rebound fell to Magennis who wasn’t able to get over his effort and the ball went over the bar. 

Goalscorer Ahearne-Grant was substituted in the 68th minute after a collision with Deji Oshilaja. He was replaced by Leon Best as the Addicks moved to a 4-4-2 formation.  

Wimbledon took the lead shortly after the substitution when McDonald got in behind the Charlton defence and the ball found its way to Taylor who calmly slotted past Amos.

An Addicks free kick gave the home side a scare when a Magennis knock down went all the way across the face of goal but a Charlton player was unable to get to the ball to slam it home. 

Wimbledon were given a 79th minute penalty when Dijksteel was adjudged to have brought down Andy Barcham. Taylor smashed home the penalty with confidence to make it 3-1. 

The Addicks weren’t done and in the 87th minute a deep Holmes cross was just reached by Barry Fuller to prevent substitute Reeco Hackett-Fairchild and Best drove wide in stoppage time from outside the area. 

The away side were unable to repeat their comeback heroics from midweek with Wimbledon advancing to the Emirates FA Cup Third Round. 

AFC Wimbledon: Long, Fuller, Meades, Oshilaja, Charles, Barcham (Kennedy, 88), Trotter, Soares, Forrester (Francomb, 75), McDonald (Abdou, 82), Taylor

Subs (not used): McDonnell, Nightingale, Robinson, Kaja.

Goals: McDonald (10), Taylor (70, pen 80)

Charlton: Amos, Dijksteel, Konsa, Sarr, Dasilva, Forster-Caskey, Aribo (Lennon, 88), Marshall (Hackett-Fairchild,), Holmes, Ahearne-Grant (Best, 67), Magennis

Subs (not used): Phillips, Jackson, Dodoo

Goals: Ahearne-Grant (22)

Attendance: 3270 (723 from Charlton)

Referee: J Linington

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