Will Lankshear made an impressive debut by securing a victory for Middlesbrough, who triumphed 1-0 against Championship rivals Wrexham in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
The £10 million summer signing from Tottenham Hotspur netted the only goal of the match in the 61st minute, expertly volleying home a cross set up by fellow debutant, United States midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, following a cushioned header.
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Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg praised Lankshear’s performance, noting, “He was very impressive. What stands out most is his dedication in training and his eagerness to learn. It’s a delight to see, and combining his character with his footballing ability on the pitch makes him a fantastic striker. I’m pleased to have him here.”
The home side nearly got on the scoreboard as early as the seventh minute when Adilson Malanda attempted to convert Berhalter’s cross, but Wrexham’s Danny Ward pulled off an outstanding save to keep the ball out.
Wrexham’s new recruit Danny Imray squandered a good chance by failing to connect properly with a cross from Callum Doyle. The visitors came close to scoring again six minutes before halftime when Sam Smith’s low shot struck the legs of Sol Brynn after he was found in space by Nathan Broadhead.
Lankshear almost added to his tally early in the second half with an attempt that went just over the bar, but he soon found the back of the net. Leo Castledine directed a header from Jeremy Sarmiento’s cross into Lankshear’s path, allowing him to pivot smoothly and execute a brilliant first-time volley into the far corner.
Boro nearly extended their lead with three minutes to spare, but Morgan Whittaker’s low shot hit the post.
In addition to Berhalter, who joined from the Vancouver Whitecaps last week, Middlesbrough also saw a debut from fellow U.S. international Max Arfsten.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance given the hectic schedule following their preseason tour of the United States. “I thought we created enough half-chances, especially in the first half, to progress. The game turned on one exceptional finish from their player,” he noted. “We had some good sequences of play, but our finishing let us down. Coming back from America on Monday presented a challenge, and I commend the players for their effort, as there were many positives to take from the match.”
Both teams are set to begin their league campaigns shortly, with Middlesbrough facing Lincoln City on August 15 and Wrexham playing Cardiff two days later.
This report includes contributions from PA.