Derby 5-5 Scunthorpe Highlights: English League Cup Kicks Off With Stone-Cold Classic

We may have had the Olympics and the Euros to keep us occupied, but regardless: Football, we have missed you, and this is why. In the first round of the English League Cup, Scunthorpe and Derby produced an absolute blockbuster that will surely be an early contender for game of the season, featuring ten goals, one of which was brilliant, a missed penalty, a tense shootout,.and a 96th-minute equaliser after Scunthorpe came from behind three times, trailing 3-0, 4-1, and 5-3 when three minutes into injury-time. Highlights and report after the jump...

The home side got into an early lead courtesy of Richard Keogh's header, before Jake Buxton doubled their lead, both courtesy of pinpoint deliveries from Jacobs, who then claimed another assist to set up Theo Robinson with his corner to make it 3-0.

Scunthorpe weren't beaten, though, and got back into the game after half-time courtesy of a fantastic goal from Andy Barsham, jinking his way through the entire Derby half at speed, turning defenders before slotting coolly into the net. The lead was short-lived, however, with another Derby set-piece putting them 4-1 ahead courtesy of Buxton again.

Again, though, Scunthorpe continued to fight on, Mike Grella getting on the end of a pinpoint through-ball and smashing a fine finish into the far corner of the net to make it 4-2. Derby were then awarded a penalty to have the opportunity to go three clear once more, but Robinson's penalty was well-saved. Just afterwards, Scunthorpe came back to 4-3 after Bobby Grant scored with a towering header.

Nathan Tyson then got on the end of a cross to put Derby back in control, making it 5-3, with just seven minutes or normal time to go. 8 minutes of injury-time were given, however, presenting Scunthorpe a faint hope, and in the 94th minute Conor Jennings managed to scramble the ball over the line to set up a tense finale. And in the 96th minute, amidst frantic claims for a different penalty appeal, Josh Walker was brought down in the Derby penalty area. Grant duly smashed the penalty home to take the game into extra-time.

Despite the chaos before, both periods of extra time resulted in no goals and the game going to a shootout, where Tom Naylor blasted his penalty against the bar to give Scunthorpe a 7-6 victory on penalties.

So, there you have it. The first contender for game of the season already, in an incredible encounter that had everything. The good news is that it'll surely be topped as the season goes on. Welcome back.