And with that, Arsenal will be meeting City in a mouthwatering League Cup showdown. I can’t remember the last time that the top two teams in the country competed in the final of England’s 2nd most prestigious domestic cup competition.
To people like Pep, this competition has been used as a springboard for further success. To others like Wenger, the League Cup has been treated with relative disdain. In any event, I have decided to wade through the annals of history and select my top five EFL Cup finals of all time. If you had noticed, I have already referred to this event as both the League and EFL Cup. This tournament has had so many monikers over the years due to different sponsorship deals and branding initiatives. It’s like the Diddy of sporting competitions. Erm, let’s scratch that. It’s like the Prince of sporting competitions. So, with each of my top five selections, I have referred to the tournament by what it was known as at the time.
5. 2008 Carling Cup: Tottenham 2- Chelsea 1
Every Hotspur has its day
Even Spurs can’t be ‘Spursy’ all the time. It would defy the laws of physics for one side to disappoint on every occasion. And the 2008 League Cup final was one such exception. Juande Ramos’ Spurs came face-to-face with Avram Grant’s Chelsea. Chelsea were one of the premier sides in Europe at that point in time. Spurs were Spurs. Fans of North London’s 2nd biggest club must have feared the worst when big-game specialist Didier Drogba blasted Chelsea ahead with a free kick. But Spurs showed surprising resolve and were awarded a penalty in the 68th minute, after Wayne Bridge was adjudged to have handled the ball in his own box. Dimitar Berbatov stepped up to the spot, slotting the ball home with the lackadaisical indifference that would define his career. Spurs would grab the winner in extra-time, as Jonatham Woodgate rose to meet a Jermaine Jenas free kick. Woodgate’s header was stopped by Cech, but the Cheslea goalie could only manage to guide it back onto Woodgate’s head. The Englishman nodded the ball home to send the Spurs’ supporters into delirium. Interestingly, this was one of only two Chelsea finals where Drogba emerged a loser (the other being the 2008 Champions League final).
4. 2017 EFL Cup: Manchester United 3- Southampton 2
Zlatan’s big United moment
This will forever be remembered as Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s most indelible contribution to English football. Southampton left no stone unturned as they went in quest of just the 2nd trophy in their club’s history, shading possession and overall shots against their more storied opponents. United got off to the faster start, with Ibra and Jesse Lingard giving them a 2-0 lead. But Manolo Gabbiaddini scored a brace either side of the break to send Southampton to dreamland. Romeu would come close for the Saints, smashing a header against the post. But cometh the hour, cometh Zlatan. The superstar- who had carried Mourinho’s side for large parts of the season- rose to meet Herrera’s cross in the 87th minute, scoring his 26th goal of the season to secure the first title of Mourinho’s United era.
3. 1979 Football League Cup: Nottingham Forest 3- Southampton 2
Hangover in the Forest
This is a true time-capsule of a match. This is exactly the type of story that can make you nostalgic for the good old days. Nottingham Forest were defending league champs and were on their way to the first of their two European Cup triumphs. Eccentric Forest manager Brian Clough thought that his boys could do with some relaxation on the eve of this final, insisting that they finish a smorgasbord of booze that he had kindly provided them (Arsene Wenger would have a heart attack reading this). The plan backfired spectacularly, as David Peace gave the Saints a 1-0 halftime lead. Brian Clough gave them a trademark half-time rollicking and the rest is history, as Gary Birtles netted a brace while Tony Woodwork scored another, with Forest eventually triumphing 3-2. Honestly, this selection is less about the stirring comeback than it is about the hilarious Clough anecdote at the heart of it.
2. 1969 Football League Cup: Arsenal 1- Swindon Town 3
Arsenal stunned on Wembley potato farm
The League Cup has not been a hotbed of success for Arsenal football club. The team that has won 13 (soon-to-be 14) league trophies and a record 14 FA Cup’s and only managed a paltry two League Cup titles. The Gunners’ most traumatic League Cup defeat came back in 1969, as Third Division Swindon Town pulled off the mother of upsets to take down the North London giants 3-1. To be fair, Wembley had a huge role to play in it. The pitch resembled a farm that day, and for good reason: Wembley hosted the Horse of the Year show a week earlier! Roger Smart gave Swindon the lead, taking advantage of some farcical Arsenal defending. Bobby Gould equalized for the Gunners to tee up a seemingly inevitable comeback. But despite peppering Swindon’s goal for the 2nd half, Arsenal could not find their breakthrough, and Don Rogers would earn his place in Swindon folklore with an extra-time brace.
1. 2005 Carling Cup: Chelsea 3- Liverpool 2
Mourinho’s begins his conquest of English football
This final is intrinsically linked to arguably the greatest manager in the history of the event: Jose Mourinho. This final had all the melodrama that you would expect from a Mourinho affair. The young Portuguese manager was flying in England and was looking to secure his first piece of silverware for the club. Chelsea were also in active pursuit of Liverpool talisman Steven Gerrad (a pursuit that would rumble on well into the following summer). John Arne Riise volleyed Liverpool ahead in the 11th minute before, incredibly, a Gerrard own-goal levelled things eleven minutes from time. Mourinho would then become the pantomime villain, sent to the stands after sarcastically shushing the Liverpool fans. Drogba and Kezman sealed the cup for Chelsea in added time while Antonio Nunez would pick up a consolation goal. Love him lor loathe him, this game was a distillation of everything Mourinho.
