Huddersfield Town secured their place in the second round of the EFL Cup at the expense of a turgid Morecambe side at the John Smith's Stadium.
Michael Duff's side took the lead within 30 seconds when Danish winger Lasse Sørensen finished from a tight angle. There was some debate whether it took a touch off his fellow winger Jaheim Headley.
The Terriers dominated the first half and finally got their second through Northern Ireland international Callum Marshall. Less than five minutes later it was 3-0 when Danny ward finished coolly after a lovely pass from Marshall.
The second half had the feeling of a training ground game, as the home team just played keep the ball for much of the remainder. The Shrimps' misery was compounded when Grenada International received a second yellow and was sent off in the 75th minute.
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Story of the Match
Michael Duff made eight changes to the starting XI that outplayed Peterborough United in their 2-0 victory at the Weston Homes Stadium. Many Town fans were happy to see the inclusion of talented youngster Tom Iorpenda, who was making his first start for the senior team.
Northern Ireland international and West Ham United loanee Callum Marshall debuted for the Terriers.
Derek Adams also made eight changes to his side that lost 1-0 to Walsall on the opening weekend of League Two, with newly instated captain Yann Song'o getting his first start since taking the armband.
The Terriers were looking to reach the second round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 2021, and the same could be said for their opponents.
A lightning start
It was a rapid start for Huddersfield, who took the lead within 30 seconds when Lasse Sørensen showed great skill out wide to beat his man and finish from a tight angle. There was some debate about whether Sørensen or Jaheim Headley got the final touch, with Headily seemingly thinking it was the Dane's goal.
Michael Duff's side continued to put pressure on the League Two team and nearly doubled their lead just two minutes later. Sørensen delivered a teasing ball into the box, but no one could get on the end of it.
The first 10 minutes showed both sides' gameplans: Huddersfield were keen to keep the ball on the ground, pass it about nicely, and wait for spaces to exploit, whereas Morecambe consistently attempted to get the ball forward using long balls but to no avail.
On the 15th minute, Brodie Spencer launched a beautiful ball forward, which Shrimps' keeper Harry Burgoyne failed to come out for. Experienced striker Danny Ward got on the end of it but put it just wide, a real let-off for the away side.
Headley looked like a threat every time he ventured down the left wing, creating chances for teammates and making Morecambe defenders panic constantly.
Huddersfield academy graduate Lorpenda was constantly urged to shoot by the home crowd. After 30 minutes, he finally fired a shot from range, forcing a good yet routine save from the Morecambe keeper.
The Shrimps won a free kick 40 yards away from Huddersfield's goal. The Terriers won the ball and quickly counted. Sørensen fired a low ball into the box and found the 19-year-old on debut, Marshall, who finished tidily to double the home side's lead.
Five minutes later, the Yorkshire side had a third. Marshall showed unbelievable determination to win the ball from Adam Lewis out wide before putting in a well-timed pass into the path of Ward, who finished with aplomb.
As half-time came, the rain became biblical, but nothing could dampen the mood of Huddersfield fans, as they had just seen their team comprehensively outplay their opponents for 45 minutes, something that did not happen too often last season.
Huddersfield made one change for the second half, replacing Michal Helik with Oliver Turton.
Morecambe remained unchanged.
Huddersfield in full control
The second half picked up where the first left off, with Huddersfield completely controlling the game and Morecambe looking disorganised and lifeless.
10 minutes into the second period, the Shrimps had their first chance; Ben Tollitt squared the ball for Jordan Slew, whose shot went well over the bar.
On the hour mark, Derek Adams had seen enough, making three substitutions in one go for the visitors, bringing on Gwion Edwards, Harvey Macadam and Callum Jones in place of Songo'o, Tollitt and Lee Angol.
A goalmouth scramble nearly resulted in a fourth for the home team, but the Morecambe defenders managed to clear it for a corner kick.
Duff made a couple of changes, bringing on Ben Wiles for Iorpenda, who impressed him on his first start. He also took off Sørensen, much to the relief of the Morecambe backline; club captain Jonathan Hogg came on in his place.
With 70 minutes on the clock, the camera cut to a beleaguered-looking Derek Adams with his head in his hands, a fitting image.
As the second half went on, Huddersfield took their foot off the gas, slowing the game down and potentially saving themselves for the weekend's game against Stevenage.
In a lovely moment, Morecambe won their first corner of the game, and the small section of Morecambe support let off an enormous ironic cheer and a sing-song, much to the amusement of the home support.
But those cheers were quickly eradicated when Kayden Harrack picked up his second yellow and was sent off for a foul on the edge of the box.
Herbie Kane took the free kick for Huddersfield and went agonisingly close, but his effort went just over.
Josh Kormoa went very close as he ran off the shoulder of the Morecambe defence, but his effort hit the inside of the post.
And with that, referee Simon Mather blew his whistle, putting Morecambe out of their misery on a rainy night in West Yorkshire and putting the League One side in the hat for the next round of the draw.
