Arsenal have been surprised by League Two Fleetwood on Tuesday night time, the champions of English soccer dumped out of the Carabao Cup by a crew 84 locations under them within the soccer pyramid.
Our Chief Sports activities Author OLIVER HOLT was at Highbury to witness the giant-killing first-hand – and it ranks as one of many best cup upsets he has seen in his profession.
However how do Fleetwood’s heroics evaluate to Lionel Messi being suckerpunched on the World Cup, or the comeback to finish all comebacks within the Champions League ultimate?
Learn on to search out out Oliver’s verdict…
10. Manchester United 1 Porto 1 (2-3 on mixture)
March 9, 2004. Champions League final 16 second leg, Previous Trafford
This was a 1-1 draw at Previous Trafford nevertheless it was sufficient to knock United out of the Champions League.
It was the match that put Jose Mourinho on the map when he ran half the size of the touchline to rejoice the late equaliser that put his crew by means of and completed his dash with a knee slide.
Porto went on to win the competitors that season and Mourinho’s profession was launched like a rocket.
United gamers react in disbelief after Costinha (not pictured) equalised for Porto within the ninetieth minute
Jose Mourinho introduced himself in English soccer together with his dash down the Previous Trafford touchline as his upstart Porto aspect went on to win the Champions League
9. Manchester United 3 Barcelona 0 (3-2 on mixture)
March 21, 1984. Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final second leg, Previous Trafford
Possibly it ought to by no means be an upset when a membership of Manchester United’s dimension win a match however this was the Barcelona of Diego Maradona and United have been 2-0 down from the primary leg in Catalonia.
Impressed by Bryan Robson, United performed like a whirlwind and swept Barcelona apart to win 3-0.
I used to be standing within the Stretford Paddock and it’s nonetheless among the finest atmospheres I’ve ever skilled at a soccer match.
Manchester United captain Bryan Robson exchanges pennants with Barcelona’s Diego Maradona forward of the second leg
The inspirational Robson scored twice to attract United degree on mixture, earlier than Frank Stapleton’s successful aim
8. Clyde 2 Celtic 1
January 8, 2006. Scottish Cup third spherical, Broadwood Stadium
The English press flocked to Clyde’s Broadwood stadium to look at this recreation as a result of it was Roy Keane’s debut in Scottish soccer following his transfer from Manchester United. It didn’t go nicely.
Clyde surprised their mighty guests and gained 2-1. It was an indication of issues to come back for Keane north of the border.
The English press flocked to Clyde’s Broadwood stadium to look at this recreation as a result of it was Roy Keane’s debut in Scottish soccer
Clyde’s gamers led by captain Michael McGowan (centre) rejoice their historic victory over their mighty guests
7. Manchester Metropolis 0 Wigan Athletic 1
Could 11, 2013. FA Cup ultimate, Wembley Stadium
Metropolis have been simply coming into their interval of dominance within the English recreation after they have been overwhelmed by relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic within the FA Cup ultimate.
It was the primary main trophy in Wigan’s existence and it was laden with emotion for his or her proprietor, Dave Whelan, who broke his leg taking part in for Blackburn Rovers within the 1960 FA Cup ultimate towards Wolves.
Whelan led the crew out and watched them win courtesy of Ben Watson’s last-minute aim.
Wigan’s Ben Watson heads in a late winner within the 2013 FA Cup ultimate, surprising Man Metropolis as they have been about to enter a interval of dominance in English soccer
Watson (proper) celebrates sending Wigan in the direction of the primary main trophy of their historical past
6. Stockport County 5 Bolton Wanderers 3 (AET)
November 17, 2021. FA Cup first spherical replay, Edgeley Park
Stockport have been within the Nationwide League after they have been paired with one of many outdated giants of the English recreation within the FA Cup. They drew the primary tie in Bolton after which went 2-0 down inside six minutes with some kamikaze defending within the replay at Edgeley Park.
However then Paddy Madden scored a penalty, the comeback started, the bottom changed into a bear-pit and the large boys from Bolton crumbled to a 5-3 defeat.
Ashley Palmer (5) powers in a header to carry Stockport again from the useless and ship the tie to further time
Scott Quigley (centre) struck 5 minutes into further time to place Stockport in entrance
5. AC Milan 3 Liverpool 3 (AET, 2-3 on penalties)
Could 25, 2005. Champions League ultimate, Ataturk Olympic Stadium
Can you’ve got a giant-killing in a Champions League ultimate? Effectively, it felt prefer it when Liverpool labored the Miracle of Istanbul on AC Milan.
Liverpool’s beginning line-up included Steve Finnan, Djimi Traore and Harry Kewell. Milan had Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Andriy Shevchenko, Kaka, Hernan Crespo and Andrea Pirlo.
Liverpool have been embarrassed within the first half however they’d the life-force that was Steven Gerrard and so they got here again from 3-0 right down to impact essentially the most gorgeous comeback in Champions League historical past.
Liverpool overcame a 3-0 deficit and an AC Milan superteam together with Kaka, Paolo Maldini and Andriy Shevchenko (pictured) to win the 2005 Champions League ultimate on penalties
Captain implausible Steven Gerrard lifts the trophy after Jerzy Dudek’s heroics within the shootout
4. Plymouth Argyle 1 Liverpool 0
February 9, 2025. FA Cup fourth spherical, Dwelling Park
This had a Fleetwood-Arsenal vibe about it. I like going to Dwelling Park. It’s one other floor that seems like one of many outposts of the English recreation nevertheless it has the fanatical residence assist of the Inexperienced Military and some of the good-looking stands within the nation, the Mayflower Grandstand.
Liverpool have been on their method to successful the title below Arne Slot however he made 10 modifications for this recreation and the Championship’s backside membership made him pay the penalty.
Liverpool have been on their method to turning into Premier League champions after they travelled to Dwelling Park in February 2025 – however a penalty from Ryan Hardie (second proper) stopped them of their tracks
Then Plymouth boss Miron Muslic (centre) celebrates his aspect’s outstanding victory within the residence dressing room
3. Argentina 1 Saudi Arabia 2
November 22, 2022. World Cup group stage, Lusail Stadium
This felt like the tip for Lionel Messi. I’m hoping most individuals have forgotten now, however I additionally wrote that it was the tip. Just a few weeks later, he was lifting the World Cup for the primary time.
That felt like a distant prospect after this humbling on the Lusail Stadium in Argentina’s opening recreation of the match. Messi had scored a penalty to place Argentina forward however Saudi Arabia recovered to take a deserved 2-1 lead and win the sport.
Messi seemed drained and shot. It turned out he was simply on the brink of show everybody unsuitable.
Salem Al Dawsari’s gorgeous successful aim condemned Argentina to defeat of their opening match, earlier than they recovered to win their third World Cup title
2. England 1 Iceland 2
June 27, 2016. Euro 2016 final 16, Stade de Good
Lagging solely behind the 1-0 defeat by the USA in Belo Horizonte in 1950, this was England’s largest humiliation in match soccer.
I bear in mind arriving on the stadium in Good and listening to and seeing the Viking Clap for the primary time and getting a foul feeling because the Iceland followers went by means of their choreographed routine.
As soon as England went behind and the enormity of what was unfolding started to daybreak on them, they froze. It was an abject humiliation.
Iceland’s gamers react after knocking out Roy Hodgson’s England at Euro 2016 – one of many largest humiliations within the nationwide crew’s historical past
Conor Haughey (left), the 19-year-old Northern Irish left again, celebrates after scoring the successful penalty in Fleetwood’s giantkilling of Arsenal
1. Fleetwood City 1 Arsenal 1 (5-3 on penalties)
October 27, 2026. League Cup fourth spherical, Highbury Stadium
Straight in on the prime of my record. Nothing towards Arsenal, who took the sport critically and behaved with class and dignity, however there was one thing life-affirming about being at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday night time to see a crew close to the foot of League Two knock out the champions of England.
Fleetwood’s win on penalties summed up a lot of the magic and the eccentricity of cup competitions in England. A drone delaying play, a gale raging by means of the stadium, a distant outpost of our recreation, a crew that had not practised penalties scoring all 5 of their kicks, a stadium with a 5,000 capability, a membership whose followers are often known as the Cod Military. It had the whole lot.
At a time when there’s a lot cynicism within the English recreation, when Manchester Metropolis have been discovered responsible of serial dishonest, this felt like an antidote.
