Sports

Teenager Conor Haughey Scores Winning Penalty as Fleetwood Upset Arsenal in Carabao Cup Shoot‑out

10 Nov 2026, 01:01 PM IST · GlobeWire Daily Sports Desk · Source: www.bbc.co.uk

2 min read

Key takeawaysFleetwood Town defender Conor Haughey, 19, converted the decisive penalty in a 5‑3 shoot‑out that eliminated Premier League champions Arsenal from the Carabao Cup last‑16 tie at Highbury. The victory sparked a pitch invasion and a flood of messages to the Belfast‑born player.

Carabao Cup: Fleetwood Town's Conor Haughey on winning penalty and viral post-match interview

Image: BBC Sport · Photo source · Resized and letterboxed to 16:9; no AI generation

Summary

Fleetwood Town defender Conor Haughey, 19, converted the decisive penalty in a 5‑3 shoot‑out that eliminated Premier League champions Arsenal from the Carabao Cup last‑16 tie at Highbury. The victory sparked a pitch invasion and a flood of messages to the Belfast‑born player.

Match details

Competition: Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) – Last‑16
Date: Tuesday evening, 23 January 2024 (match day reported by BBC Sport)
Venue: Highbury Stadium, London (Arsenal’s temporary home for the tie)
Result: Fleetwood Town 0‑0 Arsenal (5‑3 on penalties)
Penalty takers: Haughey took the fifth spot‑kick for Fleetwood and sent Arsenal keeper Illan Meslier the wrong way.

Haughey’s background

Made his senior debut for Glentoran at 15 in September 2022.
Joined Fleetwood in the summer of 2023.
Northern Ireland Under‑21 international.
Volunteered for the shoot‑out after Viktor Gyokeres equalised the earlier penalty round.

Post‑match reaction

Haughey told BBC Sport NI’s Thomas Kane:

“It was surreal, like a dream. My phone stopped working for a few hours because of all the messages. I’m from the New Lodge in Belfast and it just came out.”

He added that the win felt “like history for the fans” and that the magnitude of beating the Premier League champions had not fully sunk in.

Practical implications

Fleetwood advance to the EFL Cup quarter‑finals, where they will learn the draw after Chelsea’s match against Liverpool on Wednesday.
The win demonstrates that lower‑league sides can still challenge top‑flight clubs in knockout formats, a reminder for clubs to prepare for set‑piece and penalty scenarios.
Fans can verify the result by checking the official EFL Cup website, Arsenal’s and Fleetwood Town’s club statements, or reputable sports news outlets such as BBC Sport.