Favored Gunners Return to Wembley Seeking First Trophy Since 2005 FA Cup. Carling Cup Final Live - February 27 on Fox.
Los Angeles (Feb. 23, 2011)– FOX Soccer will provide coverage of the season’s first quest for silverware – the Carling Cup final between Arsenal and Birmingham City from Wembley Stadium -- on Sunday, Feb. 27.
Arsenal and Birmingham City, which was promoted from the second-level Championship in 2009, are the last two teams standing in the 92-team tournament that encompasses all the teams competing in the top four levels of English soccer. The pressure will be on the Gunners to win their first trophy since beating Manchester United in a penalty-kick shootout to capture the 2005 FA Cup.
Arsenal has won the Carling Cup twice: in 1987 (beating Liverpool, 2-1) and 1993 (beating Sheffield Wednesday, 2-1). It is tied with current Cup holders Manchester United for the most runner-up finishes – four. Chelsea defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the 2007 Carling Cup finals, spoiling the Gunners’ bid for a third Carling Cup.
Birmingham City, meanwhile, seeks its first Carling Cup in nearly 50 years, when it defeated Aston Villa 3-1 in a two-game, aggregate total to win its one and only Cup in 1963. The Blues return to the finals for the first time in a decade. They lost to Liverpool in a shootout, 5-4, in the 2001 Cup final.
Arsenal is not only seeking the Carling Cup crown, but its third victory over Birmingham City in five months. It beat the Blues, 2-1 on Oct. 16 and 3-0 on New Year’s Day to complete a Barclays Premier League sweep in 2010-11.
Coverage begins at 10:30 a.m. ET on FOX Soccer. The Carling Cup final will replay at 5 p.m. ET.
Sunday, Feb. 27
LIVE - Arsenal vs. Birmingham City
10:30 a.m. ET
FOX Soccer Channel*
Repeat - Arsenal vs. Birmingham City
5 p.m. ET
FOX Soccer Channel
Arsenal and Birmingham City, which was promoted from the second-level Championship in 2009, are the last two teams standing in the 92-team tournament that encompasses all the teams competing in the top four levels of English soccer. The pressure will be on the Gunners to win their first trophy since beating Manchester United in a penalty-kick shootout to capture the 2005 FA Cup.
Arsenal has won the Carling Cup twice: in 1987 (beating Liverpool, 2-1) and 1993 (beating Sheffield Wednesday, 2-1). It is tied with current Cup holders Manchester United for the most runner-up finishes – four. Chelsea defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the 2007 Carling Cup finals, spoiling the Gunners’ bid for a third Carling Cup.
Birmingham City, meanwhile, seeks its first Carling Cup in nearly 50 years, when it defeated Aston Villa 3-1 in a two-game, aggregate total to win its one and only Cup in 1963. The Blues return to the finals for the first time in a decade. They lost to Liverpool in a shootout, 5-4, in the 2001 Cup final.
Arsenal is not only seeking the Carling Cup crown, but its third victory over Birmingham City in five months. It beat the Blues, 2-1 on Oct. 16 and 3-0 on New Year’s Day to complete a Barclays Premier League sweep in 2010-11.
Coverage begins at 10:30 a.m. ET on FOX Soccer. The Carling Cup final will replay at 5 p.m. ET.
Sunday, Feb. 27
LIVE - Arsenal vs. Birmingham City
10:30 a.m. ET
FOX Soccer Channel*
Repeat - Arsenal vs. Birmingham City
5 p.m. ET
FOX Soccer Channel
