Fleetwood Town’s stunning Carabao Cup win over Arsenal has already gone down as one of the great cup shocks, and now the question is where it ranks among the all-time upsets. The League Two side beat the Premier League champions 5-3 on penalties at Highbury Stadium, despite sitting 84 places below Arsenal in the English football pyramid.
Fleetwood Town players celebrate (Credits: BBC Sport)
Fleetwood Town 1-1 Arsenal: How the Cup Upset Happened
Fleetwood, 19th in the fourth tier, took a shock lead in the 21st minute through Aaron Loupalo-Bi, and the home crowd dared to dream. Arsenal hit back after the break when Viktor Gyokeres levelled the scores, but the Gunners could not find a winner and were reduced to ten men in the 86th minute when teenager Max Dowman was sent off.
The shootout delivered the drama. Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved Bruno Guimaraes’ penalty before Conor Haughey buried the winning spot-kick, sending Fleetwood into the League Cup quarter-finals for the first time in club history and sparking wild celebrations on the pitch and in the stands.
Where Fleetwood Beating Arsenal Ranks Among Biggest Cup Upsets
The result invites comparison with the most famous giant-killings in FA Cup and League Cup history. Last season’s epic saw Grimsby Town, also of League Two, beat Manchester United 12-11 on penalties after a 2-2 draw, having led 2-0 after half an hour. Plymouth Argyle’s win over a Liverpool side that went on to lift the Premier League title also stands out, with Ryan Hardie scoring the only goal from the spot.
Further back, Bradford City’s 4-2 win at Chelsea in 2015 remains a benchmark, with the Bantams coming from 2-0 down at Stamford Bridge against Jose Mourinho’s league leaders. Oldham’s 3-2 FA Cup defeat of Liverpool in 2013, with Matt Smith scoring twice, is another classic, as is Bradford’s penalty shootout win over Arsenal themselves in the 2012 League Cup.
Fleetwood’s case is strong: an 84-place gap, a win over the reigning Premier League champions and Champions League finalists, and a first-ever quarter-final place. Whether it tops the list is a matter of debate, but it unquestionably belongs in the conversation with the greatest cup shocks English football has ever produced.
Also Read: Arsenal Stunned as Fleetwood Town Win Carabao Cup Penalty Shootout 5-3 After Drone Delay and Dowman Red Card and Fleetwood vs Arsenal Halted for 8 Minutes After Drone Flies Over Highbury in Carabao Cup
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
