Fleetwood Town eliminates Arsenal after 5-3 penalty shootout

Five goals. Three misses. That is the final tally of penalties in Tuesday's League Cup fourth-round match at Fleetwood Town. The result ended the season of Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, in one of the most unexpected results in the competition's history.

The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes of play. The shootout produced a decisive 5-3 score in favor of the fourth-tier hosts. This outcome places the latest result alongside several other major upsets recorded in English football over the past five decades.

The most recent comparable shock occurred last year during the second round of the League Cup. Grimsby Town, a lower-division side, faced Manchester United. Grimsby took a 2-0 lead early in the game. Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren scored for the hosts, exposing defensive gaps in the United lineup. Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire pulled United back into the match, forcing extra time. Grimsby ultimately won the penalty shootout, leaving then-manager Ruben Amorim stunned by the result.

Looking further back, Wimbledon defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the 1988 FA Cup final. Wimbledon had been a third-tier club just four years prior. Liverpool entered the final as defending league champions, having won the title by a nine-point margin. Lawrie Sanchez headed home the winning goal from a Dennis Wise free kick. Wimbledon goalkeeper Dave Beasant saved a penalty from John Aldridge to secure the victory.

In 1972, Hereford, a non-league team, beat Newcastle United 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round. Malcolm Macdonald gave Newcastle an 88th-minute lead. Ronnie Radford equalized for Hereford with a powerful shot from 25 yards. Ricky George scored the winning goal in extra time. The match featured pitch invasions by fans wearing parkas.

Bradford City upset Chelsea 4-2 in the 2015 FA Cup. Chelsea led 2-0 at Stamford Bridge through goals by Gary Cahill and Ramires. Bradford staged a comeback with goals from Jon Stead, Filipe Morais, Andy Halliday, and Mark Yeates. Chelsea had won the FA Cup five times between 2006 and 2018, making the defeat particularly sharp.

The 1992 FA Cup run included a 2-1 victory by Wrexham over Arsenal. The two clubs were separated by 90 places in the English Football League standings the previous season. Arsenal had won the league title in two of the last three seasons under George Graham. Alan Smith scored for Arsenal, but Mickey Thomas equalized with a free kick in the 80th minute. Steve Watkin scored a late winner for Wrexham to complete the upset.