Chelsea U23s Beat Oxford in Record-Breaking Checkatrade Trophy Penalty Shootout

Chelsea under-23s exited the 2016-17 Checkatrade Trophy on Tuesday evening despite edging a record-breaking shootout to defeat Oxford United 13-12 after 34 penalty attempts—the longest in English football history. 

The west Londoners drew 1-1 in normal time to earn a point, and their second came after goalkeeper Bradley Collins helped win the shootout, per the Mirror's Aaron Flanagan.

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A second point gained from the spot-kick win wasn't enough to lift Chelsea under-23s off the base of Southern Group C, however, which saw Swindon Town and Oxford advance while the Blues were ousted alongside Exeter City.

According to Flanagan, only 5,200 spectators were in attendance at the 41,000-seat Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, and broadcaster Stan Collymore saw the midweek action as reason to axe the competition entirely:

The Checkatrade Trophy, otherwise known as the EFL Trophy, has drawn ire this season for its renown as an unnecessary format, particularly for those top-flight teams allowing their under-age groups to participate.

Bookmakers Coral pointed out Blackburn Rovers didn't quite number among those outfits adhering to the use of the Checkatrade Trophy as an opportunity to blood young players:

There were some positives for Chelsea on Tuesday, however, as first-team players Kurt Zouma and Marco van Ginkel played the full 90 minutes for the under-23s as they continued their returns to fitness.

The home venue of Tuesday's visiting side, the Kassam Stadium, boasts a maximum capacity of 12,500, considerably less than that of Stamford Bridge, but the Oxford Mail appeared to take aim at the hosts nonetheless:

The 34 penalties witnessed in west London stands as the new record for spot-kicks played in a single shootout.

Collins missed with his first attempt from 12 yards, but the Chelsea 'keeper later returned to tuck away his second go before saving Oxford's ensuing attempt to clinch the result for his side.

It also leaves something to be desired that a club of Chelsea's grand size can have a team in the tournament finish last in their respective group despite beating the team who would eventually finish second.

New records or not, Tuesday's display will have only encouraged more questions as to why the big clubs need to take part in the Checkatrade Trophy—or indeed if the competition is needed at all.