Conor Haughey, a 19‑year‑old defender for League Two side Fleetwood Town, became the centrepiece of one of the Carabao Cup’s most memorable upsets when he converted the decisive penalty in a 5‑3 shootout victory over Premier League champions Arsenal. The shootout took place at Highbury Stadium after the two teams had finished level 2‑2 after extra time. Haughey’s fifth spot‑kick, striking the top corner, sent the crowd into a frenzy and secured Fleetwood’s place in the quarter‑finals, a result that stunned football fans worldwide.
The match was a night of firsts for the young centre‑back. Haughey had made his debut for Glentoran at just 15, becoming the club’s youngest player, before moving to Fleetwood in the summer of 2023. He has also represented Northern Ireland at under‑21 level. During the shootout, after Viktor Gyökeres and Aaron Loupalo‑Bi had taken the first two penalties for Fleetwood, Haughey volunteered to step up as the fifth taker. With goalkeeper Jay Lynch having saved Bruno Guimaraes’s attempt, Haughey calmly placed the ball into the top corner, sending Arsenal keeper Illan Meslier the wrong way and sealing the win.
The victory has sent waves through Haughey’s personal network. His phone was reportedly flooded with messages from friends and family in Belfast for two to three hours after the game, as the defender’s phone “went crazy” with notifications. In a post‑match interview that went viral, Haughey described the emotions he felt: “It was just wild. I woke up this morning and was like ‘this actually is real’. It’s unbelievable and a surreal moment.” He added that the team had approached the game with a clear plan and that the win felt like a dream.
Fleetwood’s triumph is historic for the club, which sits 84 places below Arsenal in the English football pyramid. The win has already become a talking point among supporters, and Haughey himself admitted that the magnitude of the result has not fully sunk in. “It’s not really hit me yet. I’m playing FIFA and some of the Arsenal players are in my team. It’s just mad,” he said, laughing. He also hinted that he would be “a bit giddy” when the quarter‑final draw is announced, expressing a particular desire to face Manchester City next.
The match also saw Northern Ireland senior boss Michael O’Neill in attendance, watching his former JD Academy teammate’s historic moment. As Fleetwood prepares for the next round, the club and its supporters are riding a wave of excitement, hoping to build on the shock victory and continue their impressive cup run.