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Arsenal blunder hands Birmingham first trophy in 48 years

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-02-28 10:56

Birmingham City's Obafemi Martins (L) celebrates his goal against Arsenal during their English League Cup final soccer match at Wembley Stadium in London Feb 27, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

WEMBLEY, England - Birmingham won its first trophy in 48 years after a mix-up between Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny allowed Obafemi Martins to score an 89th-minute goal to clinch a 2-1 victory in the League Cup final on Sunday.

Szczesny and Koscielny both went for the ball from Nikola Zigic's glancing header from a long pass into the box. The ball landed at the feet of Martins, who slid it into the net six minutes after coming onto the pitch.

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"I think it was my second touch," said Martins, who joined Birmingham on a six-month loan from Rubin Kazan last month. "I think this is the easiest goal I've ever scored in my career - and it's very important."

Birmingham, the 1963 League Cup winners who are sitting only two points above the Premier League relegation zone, overcame a side second in the standings at Wembley Stadium.

"A little misunderstanding had great consequences for the result," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose team hasn't won a title since the 2005 FA Cup. "It was a lack of communication and lack of determination as well because always when a ball is in no man's land someone has to take responsibility and go for it really."

For Birmingham, the mix-up was retribution. Szczesny avoided being sent off in the second minute for bringing down Lee Bowyer in the penalty area when replays suggested the midfielder was wrongly adjudged to be in an offside position.

Arsenal's defensive frailties had been exploited in the 28th minute when Zigic headed Birmingham in front, although Robin van Persie volleyed Arsenal level 11 minutes later.

"For a small club like Birmingham to beat the might of Arsenal is a dream come true," Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said. "We weren't given a prayer by the pundits and the bookies but we believed today. It was a titanic performance by the players."

Arsenal's Johan Djourou reacts after losing their English League Cup final soccer match to Birmingham City at Wembley Stadium in London Feb 27, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Three finals have been lost by Arsenal since 2005 as Wenger's wait continues for his youthful side to have something to show for its eye-catching football.

That lack of success, Wenger conceded before the match, had placed "a weight on the team." Only this season has Wenger selected strong sides in the League Cup, which he had derided in previous years and fielded young players.

Wenger hoped the final would show how far his side has matured, but Arsenal was sluggish and struggled to impose itself.

While Birmingham has qualified for the Europa League with the win, the priority is staying in the Premier League.

Arsenal will turn its attentions to an FA Cup fifth-round replay against Leyton Orient on Tuesday and a Champions League last-16 match against Barcelona the following week.