EFL Cup

[monks data]

League Cup | Quarter-Finals

Dec 11, 2012 at 7.45pm UK

Bradford Bradford City
1-1
Arsenal

Thompson

Vermaelen

Bradford win 3-2 on penalties

Bradford beat Arsenal on penalties

By Sian Cowper, Reporter | 11 December 2012

Bradford beat Arsenal 3-2 on penalties to secure a place in the semi finals of the Capital One Cup.

Thomas Vermaelen missed the decisive penalty in Arsenal's shootout with Bradford City to send the League Two side into the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.

Bradford's Garry Thompson celebrates his goal against Arsenal on December 11, 2012 © PA Photos

The home side started positively, with action in the Arsenal penalty area inside the first two minutes.

Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski had early chances at the other end, but their efforts both went over the bar.

Bradford took the lead in the 16th minute, Garry Thompson driving in a volley off a Gary Jones free kick.

Gervinho missed a great chance for an equaliser towards the end of the first half, but failed to fully connect with the ball, and the effort drifted wide.

Arsenal's Gervinho misses from a yard against Bradford on December 11, 2012 © PA Photos

Bradford could have doubled their lead just before the break after Nahki Wells broke free of Thomas Vermaelen, but his shot missed by inches.

Arsenal had chances throughout the second half but Bradford's defence held up well, until Vermaelen found the equaliser in the 87th minute.

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen scores a late equaliser against Bradford on December 11, 2012 © PA Photos

The Gunners looked threatening in the final minutes as they looked the avoid extra time against their League Two hosts, but Bradford held on to force an additional half-hour.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked bright in the opening minutes of extra time, forcing Bradford's back four to block a pair of shots, as Arsenal dominated the opening 15 minutes of the additional period but were unable to breach Bradford's defence.

Cazorla had a thunderous strike from 30 yards in the second half of extra time, rocking the crossbar.

Oxlade-Chamberlain continued to look like one of Arsenal's best chances of a goal, creating a number of chances, but his teammates were unable to capitalise on his creativity.

Bradford had a late corner in extra time, but Arsenal cleared the effort, meaning penalties would be needed to separate the teams.

Arsenal missed their first two spot kicks, giving Bradford an early 2-0 lead.

At 3-2, Vermaelen stepped up to take the Gunners' fifth kick, but the shot struck the post to give Bradford their second win over a Premier League side in the competition this season.

It is the ninth consecutive penalty shootout win for the Bantams.