Gabriel Slonina named EFL Cup Player of the Round

Gabriel Slonina’s memorable Barnsley debut has earned him his first EFL award.

Slonina was named Player of the Round for the EFL Cup’s first round, the league announced Monday. The Chelsea loanee started and played 90 minutes for Barnsley in an eventual 4-2 penalty shootout victory over fellow League One side Wigan Athletic.

Slonina made two key penalty saves on Thelo Aasgaard and Josh Stones to help Darrell Clarke’s advance to the second round of the competition. Fellow American Donovan Pines scored the tying goal for Barnsley as the two teams finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Slonina, 20, beat out Watford’s Tom Ince, Blackpool’s Matt Pennington and Crawley Town’s Jack Roles for the honor.

“It feels amazing to have my debut come across in that way, but we produced a team effort in the second half to get back in the game, and I’m glad that I could be part of that,” Slonina said in an EFL interview.

“It’s extra special that the fans voted for me, and I wouldn’t have been able to have such a great start without their support.”

Slonina has since started two League One matches for Barnsley and is expected to remain in between the posts Tuesday when the Owls face off with South Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United in the EFL Cup second round.