Sky Bet EFL Championship
Kassam Stadium, Oxford
Saturday 14 March 2026
Oxford United… 1
(Brannagan 57’ pen)
Charlton Athletic… 1
(Kelman 90+3’ pen)
Oxford United drew 1-1 with Charlton Athletic in a game that was decided by two penalties.
Cameron Brannagan put United ahead after receiving the first penalty since being promoted in the Championship in 2024, which looked to be the decisive moment. However, Charlie Kelman also scored from the spot in injury time to earn the visitors a point.
It was a cagey first half without any action for either side as both teams looked to protect their goals.
The best chance of the half came for Jamie Donley, fresh after his goal on Wednesday, as his chipped a freekick from the edge of the box narrowly over the bar.
There wasn’t much else to shout about for either side as the half drew out to a drab close.
Into the second period and Michal Helik was inches away from the opening goal after 53 minutes. He nipped in to get on the end of a flick on inside the box and just cushioned the ball over the bar, with strong appeals for a penalty.
Charlton went close a moment later with a header from six yards out which went just wide, but it was Oxford who took the lead minutes later, and incredibly, through a penalty.
A push on Will Lankshear in the area saw a referee award a penalty to United for the first time since earning promotion from the Championship. It had been 92 games and 22 months, but finally, a spot kick. Up stepped Brannagan and with 11,000 on their feet in nervous anticipation, he smashed the ball into the bottom left corner.
On 61 minutes it was inches away from being 2-0 to United. Lankshear got in behind the Charlton defence and he done everything right to chip the ball over the keeper, but Lloyd Jones rushed back to clear off the line.
It looked more like United were going to get a second rather than Charlton equalising, but deep into injury time, they did get the leveller. It was another penalty which was awrded, as Ciaron Brown tugged the jersey of the attacker as the high ball came into the box. Charlie Kelman stepped up and slotted into the bottom left corner despite Cumming getting a hand on the ball.
A draw which can feel like a defeat given the circumstances, but another important point on the board in what has been a superb run with three wins and a draw in the last four.
Oxford United: Cumming, Long, Brown, Konak (McDonnell 64’), Helik, Brannagan, Emakhu (Placheta 64’), Mills (Vaulks 84’), Currie, Lankshear (Prelec 76’), Donley (Spencer 76’)
Subs: Ingram, Harris, Jin Woo, Makosso
Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay, Jones, Coventry, Campbell, Docherty, Carey, Leaburn, Bell, Chambers, Clarke
Subs: Kaminski, Gillesphey, Coady, Kelman, Rankin-Costello, Gough, Fullah, Fevrier
Attendance: 11,325 (1,506 away)
50/50: £1,266.50 / 114094