Doncaster ousted Manchester City in a penalty shootout, while Brian McBride scored an extra-time winner for Fulham to beat Lincoln 5-4 in the League Cup on Wednesday.
League One Doncaster held the Premier League's fifth-placed Man City to 1-1 after extra time at The Earth Stadium. Doncaster then won 3-0 on penalties with substitute goalkeeper Jan Budtz saving twice.
The entire match was decided from the penalty spot.
There were no goals in the first 90 minutes before England striker Darius Vassell put City ahead with a penalty in the fifth minute of extra time. But Doncaster forced a shootout after Michael McIndoe had leveled from the spot two minutes from the end of extra time.
Budtz replaced Andy Warrington, who was carried off with a suspected broken leg in extra time after a challenge by City's Nedum Onuoha, who was shown the red card. Budtz saved spot kicks by Antoine Sibierski and Richard Dunne, while Vassell's penalty hit the crossbar.
McIndoe, James Coppinger and Paul Heffernan all hit the target for Rovers.
Fulham led 2-0 and 4-2 against League Two Lincoln at Craven Cottage but was pegged back each time until United States striker McBride, who had started on the bench, headed home Adam Green's free kick with seconds remaining.
Zeshan Rehman and Heidar Helguson put Fulham 2-0 up inside the first 31 minutes, only for Lincoln to reply through Francis Green and an own goal by Moritz Volz.
Goals in extra time by Liam Rosenior and Canada striker Tomasz Radzinski put Fulham 4-2 ahead, but Scott Kerr and Marvin Robinson made it 4-4.
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