Birmingham tops Arsenal in League Cup final

Obafemi Martins, left, reacts after scoring the winning goal in Birmingham's 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final. Birmingham took home a trophy for the first time since 1963. (Suzanne Plunkett)

Monday, February 28, 2011 


Obafemi Martins scored a winner in the 89th minute after a blunder by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny gave Birmingham a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in Sunday's League Cup final for its first trophy since 1963.
Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny went for the ball from Nikola Zigic's long pass. The ball landed at the feet of Martin, who slid it into the net.
"I think it was my second touch," Martins said. "I think this is the easiest goal I've ever scored in my career."
Zigic had put Birmingham in front with a header in the 28th minute. Robin van Persie of Arsenal tied it 11 minutes later with a volley.
Birmingham won the 1963 League Cup final. Its victory left Arsenal searching for its first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.

Birmingham is battling relegation from the Premier League, two points above the drop zone. Arsenal is second behind Manchester United.
Arsenal has lost three finals since 2005. That lack of success, Manager Arsene Wenger said before the match, had placed "a weight on the team." Wenger hoped the final would show how far his club has matured, but Arsenal was sluggish and struggled to impose itself. . . .

The U.S. national team won the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 championship with a 3-0 victory over Canada. After a scoreless 90 minutes in Montego Bay, Jamaica, the U.S. notched three goals in extra time, from Nathan Smith, Andrew Oliver and Alfred Koroma. Jack McBean assisted on the final two goals. The team will represent the U.S. at the U-17 World Cup in Mexico in June.