In the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, Fleetwood Town of England's fourth tier defeated last season's Premier League champions Arsenal at home. The match was played at Fleetwood Stadium on the 27th, with Aaron Bradley Louparovy scoring the opening goal in the 21st minute, Viktor Gökeres equalizing in the 50th minute, and the score remaining 1-1 at the end of the 90th minute, sending the game into extra time. In the penalty shootout, goalkeeper Jay Lynch stopped a shot from Fleetwood's fourth kicker Bruno Guimarães, and as a result, everyone succeeded, resulting in a 5-3 penalty shootout and a place in the quarter-finals.
This victory marks a major turning point for Fleetwood, who are in 18th place out of 24 teams in League Two (England's fourth tier). Arsenal are the reigning Premier League champions and are said to have become the first team to lose in the League Cup against a team from the fourth tier. British media ``Squawka'' described this victory as ``one of the biggest upsets in Carabao Cup history,'' emphasizing how Fleetwood took advantage of the disadvantageous situation.
After the game, Lynch said in an interview, ``I lost my voice because I kept giving instructions to the defense,'' and praised the efforts of the entire team. He also recalled Grimsby's victory over Manchester United last year, saying it gave courage to other players who faced similar challenges. "It was a typical Fleetwood night. We expected it to be stormy, we knew the conditions were going to be bad, so we thought that might work in our favor," Lynch said, hinting that the weather may have contributed to the win.
The win took Fleetwood to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, a big step that temporarily put their struggles in League Two behind them. The next opponent has not yet been decided, but the team plans to use the experience they gained this time to aim for even greater heights in the remaining cup matches. The achievement of defeating the Premier League champions will greatly enhance Fleetwood's reputation and is expected to greatly contribute to their confidence and motivation in future matches.