Aston Villa suffered late heartbreak against Sutton United to draw 2-2 in their EFL Trophy Southern Section opener, before going on to secure an additional point courtesy of a 5-4 penalty shoot-out triumph.
The Young Lions looked set to claim all three points but Harry Beautyman’s headed equaliser in the 10th minute of injury time forced a draw, ensuring spot-kicks followed and Villa got the upper hand from 12 yards, Ben Broggio netting the winning penalty.
Tommi O’Reilly’s sixth-minute penalty had handed Villa’s Under-21s a perfect start against the League Two U’s.
And the lead was doubled by Omari Kellyman’s well-taken finish midway through the second half at the VBS Community Stadium.
Sutton substitute Hisham Kasimu set up a frantic finale with his 79th-minute strike, before Beautyman’s last-gasp leveller late on denied the visitors victory.
Villa’s subsequent shoot-out success ensures Inigo Idiakez’s side are on two points from the opening match of their Group B campaign, with trips to Charlton Athletic and Crawley Town to come.
Villa got off to a dream start as O’Reilly slotted home an early penalty, picking himself up having been fouled in the area by Beautyman.
Filip Marschall was immediately called upon to preserve Villa’s lead at the other end, saving well from Lee Angol.
The visitors went even closer after 17 minutes as Scott Kashket curled against the inside of a post.
D’Mani Mellor then sent a shot wide for U’s just after the half-hour mark as the hosts continued to create chances, but the Young Lions were largely comfortable.
The home side were dominant and Kashket fired wide just before the break, but it was Villa, having lost Frankie Ealing to injury, who led at the interval.
Clear-cut chances were at a premium at the start of the second half, Mellor forcing a routine save from Marschall on the hour.
And it was Villa who doubled their advantage in the 68th minute.
A fine move down the right channel resulted in Mikell Barnes squaring for Kellyman and he applied a fine finish to loop the ball over goalkeeper Jack Rose from eight yards.
The visitors looked to be firmly in control but Kasimu pulled one back for U’s with 11 minutes remaining.
And Villa’s defence stood firm until the 10th minute of added time when Beautyman headed home a cruel late leveller, ensuring the clash ended all square and went to a penalty shoot-out.
Villa netted all of their spot-kicks, with Rob Milsom slotting wide for United, before Broggio duly converted the winner to secure the additional point.