Birmingham City produced a dramatic comeback to beat West Ham United in extra time and reach the Carling Cup Final.
Birmingham beat West Ham to win 3-1 on the night (4-3 aggregate) and will advance to face Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in the Final.
Carlton Cole opened the scoring to give West Ham a 3-1 aggregate lead, and have the Hammers seemingly on course to reach the final at half-time. Birmingham scored second half goals through Lee Bowyer and Roger Johnson to force extra time, while an extra time winning goal from Craig Gardner sent the home fans into delirium, and the Blues into the final.
West Ham arrived at St. Andrews defending a 2-1 lead from their first leg victory, and it was the Londoner’s who looked the most comfortable in the early stages. Zavon Hines had two early strikes on goal saved by Ben Foster, and England striker Carlton Cole was a handful for the Birmingham defense.
Cole fired West Ham ahead after 31 minutes with an excellent strike, collecting a Wayne Bridge throw-in, before turning and hitting a spectacular strike beyond Foster to give the Hammers a seemingly comfortable lead in the Semi-Final.
West Ham continued in the ascendancy, and only the woodwork prevented them from doubling their lead before half-time when Hines connected with a Mark Noble free kick. West Ham appeared in control at half-time, and that showed in the reaction of the home fans who booed them off the field loudly at the interval.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish threw on giant striker Nikola Zigic at half-time, and the Serbian striker would play a significant role in Birmingham turning the game round. The physical presence of Zigic showed early when he knocked down to Gardner who crashed the ball against the goal post. Zigic then created an opening for Cameron Jerome who fired wide from inside the area.
The Blues continued to push forward and were denied a penalty appeal for an apparent Bridge handball. Just before the half hour mark the pressure paid off for the Blues when Bowyer leveled the game 1-1 on the night. A Sebastian Larsson corner fell to Bowyer, and the former England midfielder rifled the ball beyond Rob Green.
The goal raised the atmosphere in St. Andrews, and with the home fans upping the noise level, Green had to save well to keep out Barry Ferguson. Birmingham took a 2-1 lead and leveled the aggregate scores when Johnson rose highest to head home a Bowyer corner 11 minutes from time.
West Ham were under relentless pressure during the last 10 minutes of regulation time, and Green saved well to deny Jerome, before Gardner had a shot tipped onto the goal post by the England goalkeeper. With the aggregate score locked at 3-3, the game went into extra time.
Gardner did manage to beat Green four minutes into the extra period, when he collected a pass from Stephen Carr, and buried a low dive past Green to give Birmingham a decisive lead.
Another West Ham goal would have seen them progress on the away goals rule, and they went close when Scott Parker fired over the bar from eight yards out. Kieron Dyer then fired high over the bar when presented with a gilt edged chance.
The Hammers continued to push forward, but were unable to break down the Blues backline, and Birmingham were left to celebrate reaching their first Carling Cup Final for 10 years. The Blues last won this competition in 1963, a triumph that is the last major trophy won by the club.
SCORING SUMMARY
WHU – Cole (Bridge) 31’
BIR – Bowyer (unassisted) 59’
BIR – Johnson (Bowyer) 79’
BIR – Gardner (Carr) 94’
LINEUPS
BIR – Foster, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Jiranek, Bowyer, Larsson (Beausejour 101), Gardner (Murphy 101), Ferguson, Jerome, Derbyshire (Zigic 46).
WHU – Green, Tomkins, Upson, Spector (McCarthy 106), Faubert, Bridge, Parker, Boa Morte (O’Neil 83), Noble, Cole, Hines (Dyer 71).
Carlton Cole opened the scoring to give West Ham a 3-1 aggregate lead, and have the Hammers seemingly on course to reach the final at half-time. Birmingham scored second half goals through Lee Bowyer and Roger Johnson to force extra time, while an extra time winning goal from Craig Gardner sent the home fans into delirium, and the Blues into the final.
West Ham arrived at St. Andrews defending a 2-1 lead from their first leg victory, and it was the Londoner’s who looked the most comfortable in the early stages. Zavon Hines had two early strikes on goal saved by Ben Foster, and England striker Carlton Cole was a handful for the Birmingham defense.
Cole fired West Ham ahead after 31 minutes with an excellent strike, collecting a Wayne Bridge throw-in, before turning and hitting a spectacular strike beyond Foster to give the Hammers a seemingly comfortable lead in the Semi-Final.
West Ham continued in the ascendancy, and only the woodwork prevented them from doubling their lead before half-time when Hines connected with a Mark Noble free kick. West Ham appeared in control at half-time, and that showed in the reaction of the home fans who booed them off the field loudly at the interval.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish threw on giant striker Nikola Zigic at half-time, and the Serbian striker would play a significant role in Birmingham turning the game round. The physical presence of Zigic showed early when he knocked down to Gardner who crashed the ball against the goal post. Zigic then created an opening for Cameron Jerome who fired wide from inside the area.
The Blues continued to push forward and were denied a penalty appeal for an apparent Bridge handball. Just before the half hour mark the pressure paid off for the Blues when Bowyer leveled the game 1-1 on the night. A Sebastian Larsson corner fell to Bowyer, and the former England midfielder rifled the ball beyond Rob Green.
The goal raised the atmosphere in St. Andrews, and with the home fans upping the noise level, Green had to save well to keep out Barry Ferguson. Birmingham took a 2-1 lead and leveled the aggregate scores when Johnson rose highest to head home a Bowyer corner 11 minutes from time.
West Ham were under relentless pressure during the last 10 minutes of regulation time, and Green saved well to deny Jerome, before Gardner had a shot tipped onto the goal post by the England goalkeeper. With the aggregate score locked at 3-3, the game went into extra time.
Gardner did manage to beat Green four minutes into the extra period, when he collected a pass from Stephen Carr, and buried a low dive past Green to give Birmingham a decisive lead.
Another West Ham goal would have seen them progress on the away goals rule, and they went close when Scott Parker fired over the bar from eight yards out. Kieron Dyer then fired high over the bar when presented with a gilt edged chance.
The Hammers continued to push forward, but were unable to break down the Blues backline, and Birmingham were left to celebrate reaching their first Carling Cup Final for 10 years. The Blues last won this competition in 1963, a triumph that is the last major trophy won by the club.
SCORING SUMMARY
WHU – Cole (Bridge) 31’
BIR – Bowyer (unassisted) 59’
BIR – Johnson (Bowyer) 79’
BIR – Gardner (Carr) 94’
LINEUPS
BIR – Foster, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Jiranek, Bowyer, Larsson (Beausejour 101), Gardner (Murphy 101), Ferguson, Jerome, Derbyshire (Zigic 46).
WHU – Green, Tomkins, Upson, Spector (McCarthy 106), Faubert, Bridge, Parker, Boa Morte (O’Neil 83), Noble, Cole, Hines (Dyer 71).
