MX23RW : Monday, May 20 17:46:12| >> :60:238:238:

On This Day in 2012: Arsenal knocked out of EFL Cup by Bradford

On This Day in 2012: Arsenal knocked out of EFL Cup by Bradford
© Reuters
Bradford went on to beat another top-flight side, Aston Villa, in a two-legged semi-final before losing to Swansea in the final.

Arsenal suffered humiliation in the League Cup on this day in 2012 as they lost on penalties to League Two side Bradford after a 1-1 draw at Valley Parade.

Bradford went on to beat another top-flight side, Aston Villa, in a two-legged semi-final before losing to Swansea in the final.

The PA news agency followed Bradford's giant-killing run to Wembley and provided this report of that unforgettable victory against Arsene Wenger's side.

Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke is mobbed by his team-mates after the penalty shoot-out
Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke is mobbed by his team-mates after the penalty shoot-out (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

Arsenal suffered an embarrassment of epic proportions as they lost on penalties to a battling Bradford side whose achievement should rank among football's all-time giant-killing feats.

Phil Parkinson's League Two players did not just beat Arsenal in this Capital One Cup quarter-final, for much of this match they outplayed Arsene Wenger's woeful Gunners to reach a first ever semi-final.

The spot-kick specialists won their ninth successive penalty shoot-out 3-2 after Thomas Vermaelen struck the post.

The Arsenal skipper had earlier appeared to rescue the Gunners with a header three minutes from normal time to cancel out Garry Thompson's first-half volley.

A sell-out crowd of 23,971 witnessed a memorable night at Valley Parade
A sell-out crowd of 23,971 witnessed a memorable night at Valley Parade (Anna Gowthorpe/PA)

But keeper Matt Duke defied the Premier League side to send the tie to a shoot-out – and glory for Bradford in front of a 23,971 sell-out crowd, the club's biggest since 1960.

The defeat in sub-zero temperatures, and another failure in Arsenal's seven-year quest for silverware, will chill the veins of Wenger as he contemplates the season so far.

The humiliation was further intensified by Wenger's breaking his long-held rule and fielding a full-strength side in the League Cup.

ID:426004: cacheID:426004:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5740:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Oliver Dowden pictured in March 2020
Read Next:
Ten clubs to admit up to 1,000 fans at league matches this weekend
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!