League Two and lowest ranked side in the competition, Fleetwood Town pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Carabao Cup history as they beat Premier League champions Arsenal in an astounding 5-3 penalty shootout to reach the quarter-finals.
Mikel Arteta’s side were left shell-shocked when Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the hosts – ranked 83 places below the Gunners in the football pyramid – an unexpected lead in the 21st minute.
Viktor Gyokeres pulled the visitors level after the break, but a wasteful Arsenal side could not put the game to bed and they were reduced to 10-men in the 86th minute when teenage starlet Max Dowman kicked out after a hefty tackle by Harrison Neal.
Jay Lynch made two sublime saves to stop Ben White and Martin Odegaard right at the death to take the hosts to penalty shootout.
And the Fleetwood goalkeeper pulled off more heroics as he stopped Bruno Guimaraes’ spot kick before Conor Haughey sparked scenes of ecstasy at Highbury Stadium by converting the winning penalty.
Meanwhile, Macaulay Gillesphey and Adam Phillips were on target as Bradford City beat Peterborough United to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2013.
Gillesphey volleyed home in the first half to add to his goal when the League One sides last met at the Mbanq Valley Parade in August before Phillips sealed Bradford’s place in the competition’s last eight.
The clean sheet meant the Bantams have still not conceded a goal since manager Michael Duff took charge five games ago.
Fleetwood Town goalkeeper, Jay Lynch was player of the match.
