Birmingham City lifted their first trophy since 1963 with a 2-1 Carling Cup Final over victory over Arsenal at Wembley Stadium.
Birmingham striker Obefami Martins pounced on a goalkeeping error by Wojciech Szczesny to net an 89th minute winner for the Blues.
Nikola Zigic had given Birmingham a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute, before Robin van Persie equalized before half-time. Substitute Martins then swooped one minute from time to spark manic celebrations among the Blues fans, and ensure that Arsenal’s six year trophy drought is extended for at least a few more months.
Birmingham’s success also owed a lot to goalkeeper Ben Foster, who collected the Man of the Match award after a string of impressive saves.
Arsenal’s day got off to a shaky start when midfielder Lee Bowyer raced clear only to be hauled down by Szczesny. The play would have likely resulted in both a penalty and red card, but the goalkeeper received a lucky break when Bowyer was ruled offside.
Arsenal threatened at the other end and their biggest chance came when Andrey Arshavin forced a fine save out of Foster.
Birmingham took a 28th minute lead when Zigic used his size and physical presence to his advantage at a corner. Roger Johnson flicked on a corner from former Arsenal midfielder Sebastian Larsson, and Zigic found space to run home the loose ball and open the scoring.
Zigic had a chance to bouble Birmingham’s lead soon after but Szczesny saved, and Arsenal would draw themselves level within 10 minutes.
Jack Wilshere fired a shot against the crossbar and the ball ended up at the feet of Arshavin, the Russian midfielder sent over a floating cross and van Persie produced a stunning volley to draw the scores level. Arsenal almost snatched a lead on the stroke of half-time, but Foster did well to keep out Samir Nasri’s curling shot.
The second half did not start well for Birmingham, first Tomas Rosicky went close for the Gunners when he shot wide, before Craig Gardner limped off injured. Arsenal suffered a blow of their own when van Persie was subbed off due to injury in the 69th minute.
Midfielder Keith Fahey almost regained the lead for Birmingham, his stunning drive had Szczesny beaten only to bounce back agonizingly off the inside of the goalpost.
Arsenal seemed to be gaining the upper hand in the final half hour. Nasri had his shot blocked by Foster, and the keep reacted quickly to also deny Nicklas Bendtner from the rebound. French midfielder Nasri continued to threaten but was again denied by a fine save from Foster.
It looked like Foster’s heroics had earned extra-time for Birmingham, but he went one better by playing a part in Birmingham’s dramatic winning goal. Foster pumped a long free kick forward from his own half, Zigic flicked it on and Martins pounced on a mix-up between Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny to win the Carling Cup for Birmingham City.
SCORING SUMMARY
BIR – Nikola Zigic (Roger Johnson) 28’
ARS – Robin van Persie (Andrey Arshavin) 39’
BIR – Obafemi Martins 89’
LINEUPS
ARS – Szczesy, Sagna, Koscielny, Djorou, Clichy, Rosicky, Nasri, Song, Wilshere, Arshavin (Chamakh 77), van Persie (69).
BIR – Foster, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Jiranek, Bowyer, Larsson, Gardner (Beausejour 50), Ferguson, Fahey (Martins 83), Zigic (Jerome 90+2).
Attendance: 88,851
Nikola Zigic had given Birmingham a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute, before Robin van Persie equalized before half-time. Substitute Martins then swooped one minute from time to spark manic celebrations among the Blues fans, and ensure that Arsenal’s six year trophy drought is extended for at least a few more months.
Birmingham’s success also owed a lot to goalkeeper Ben Foster, who collected the Man of the Match award after a string of impressive saves.
Arsenal’s day got off to a shaky start when midfielder Lee Bowyer raced clear only to be hauled down by Szczesny. The play would have likely resulted in both a penalty and red card, but the goalkeeper received a lucky break when Bowyer was ruled offside.
Arsenal threatened at the other end and their biggest chance came when Andrey Arshavin forced a fine save out of Foster.
Birmingham took a 28th minute lead when Zigic used his size and physical presence to his advantage at a corner. Roger Johnson flicked on a corner from former Arsenal midfielder Sebastian Larsson, and Zigic found space to run home the loose ball and open the scoring.
Zigic had a chance to bouble Birmingham’s lead soon after but Szczesny saved, and Arsenal would draw themselves level within 10 minutes.
Jack Wilshere fired a shot against the crossbar and the ball ended up at the feet of Arshavin, the Russian midfielder sent over a floating cross and van Persie produced a stunning volley to draw the scores level. Arsenal almost snatched a lead on the stroke of half-time, but Foster did well to keep out Samir Nasri’s curling shot.
The second half did not start well for Birmingham, first Tomas Rosicky went close for the Gunners when he shot wide, before Craig Gardner limped off injured. Arsenal suffered a blow of their own when van Persie was subbed off due to injury in the 69th minute.
Midfielder Keith Fahey almost regained the lead for Birmingham, his stunning drive had Szczesny beaten only to bounce back agonizingly off the inside of the goalpost.
Arsenal seemed to be gaining the upper hand in the final half hour. Nasri had his shot blocked by Foster, and the keep reacted quickly to also deny Nicklas Bendtner from the rebound. French midfielder Nasri continued to threaten but was again denied by a fine save from Foster.
It looked like Foster’s heroics had earned extra-time for Birmingham, but he went one better by playing a part in Birmingham’s dramatic winning goal. Foster pumped a long free kick forward from his own half, Zigic flicked it on and Martins pounced on a mix-up between Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny to win the Carling Cup for Birmingham City.
SCORING SUMMARY
BIR – Nikola Zigic (Roger Johnson) 28’
ARS – Robin van Persie (Andrey Arshavin) 39’
BIR – Obafemi Martins 89’
LINEUPS
ARS – Szczesy, Sagna, Koscielny, Djorou, Clichy, Rosicky, Nasri, Song, Wilshere, Arshavin (Chamakh 77), van Persie (69).
BIR – Foster, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Jiranek, Bowyer, Larsson, Gardner (Beausejour 50), Ferguson, Fahey (Martins 83), Zigic (Jerome 90+2).
Attendance: 88,851
