Birmingham stun Arsenal to win Cup
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Birmingham City defeated Arsenal 2- 1 thanks to Obafemi Martins's 89th minute goal, clinching the League Cup at Wembley on Sunday.
It's the first silverware awarded to Birmingham City since they won the League Cup in 1963 while Arsenal have to keep waiting for their first trophy since snatching the 2005 FA Cup title.
Nikola Zigic pushed Birmingham ahead in the 27th minute with a header, but Robin van Persie volleyed home the equalizer with six minutes to go in the first half.
Both sides failed to move forward until late substitute Martins shot into the open net for Birmingham in the 89th minute.
Arsenal were lucky to avoid an early blow as the linesman misjudged Lee Bowyer offside in the second minute before the Birmingham midfielder was hauled down by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
With the absence of captain Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri led the Gunners to find their rhythm. The French midfielder sent a clever pass into the box in the eighth minute, but Andrey Arshavin's shot was held back by Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster. Six minutes later, Nasri showed his fantastic skills by dribbling the ball while getting triple-teamed, but finally drove the ball over the bar.
However, it's Birmingham that broke the deadlock as giant striker Zigic headed home in the area. The Serbian should have made a brace in the 34th minute, but Szczesny managed to block in advance.
Birmingham were tight in defense but Arsenal still find a chance. Jack Wilshere hit the crossbar in the 39th minute and the ball was picked up by Arshavin inside the box, who crossed Van Persie to volley home.
In the second half, Keith Fahey's shot bounced off the inside of the post before Birmingham injected more energy in depressing Arsenal's attack.
With only one minute remaining in the regular time, Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny both missed Zigic's header, leaving Martins to strike the late winner.
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