Fleetwood Town’s Conor Haughey Scores Decisive Penalty to Upset Arsenal in Carabao Cup
Fleetwood Town defender Conor Haughey enjoyed a remarkable night on Tuesday, securing a dramatic victory over Premier League champions Arsenal in the Carabao Cup by scoring the winning penalty in a thrilling 5-3 shootout. The victory took place at Highbury Stadium, marking one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.
The 19-year-old’s decisive fifth penalty kick soared into the top corner, triggering a jubilant pitch invasion by Fleetwood supporters. Haughey soon found his phone inundated with messages from family and friends in Belfast, all eager to congratulate him on his memorable achievement.
In a subsequent post-match interview, Haughey’s exuberance was evident, and the swearing that slipped through during his reflections quickly gained traction on social media. “There were too many emotions going on, it was just wild. I’m from the New Lodge, I’ve been brought up like that and it just came out,” he shared in an interview with BBC Sport NI’s Thomas Kane.
Reflecting on the surreal experience, Haughey stated, “It’s been like a dream. I woke up this morning and was like ‘this actually is real’. It’s unbelievable and a surreal moment.” The young talent expressed confidence in his team’s game plan going into the match, reinforcing their belief that they would not be intimidated. “We knew going into the game we weren’t going to be overawed, we went in with a game plan and stuck to it and got the victory, so into the next round,” he added.
Haughey made history as the youngest player in Glentoran’s history when he debuted at 15 years old before moving to Fleetwood in the summer of 2023. As a Northern Ireland Under-21 international, he proudly volunteered to take a penalty during the shootout after Viktor Gyokeres equalized in regulation time.
Despite the presence of Northern Ireland senior boss Michael O’Neill, it was Haughey who captured the spotlight. He took his penalty after Fleetwood goalkeeper Jay Lynch saved a kick from Bruno Guimaraes, allowing Haughey to seal the victory confidently. After scoring, he rushed to celebrate with friends and family who had traveled from Belfast, joining in the enthusiastic pitch invasion.
“I trusted myself to hit one and luckily I went fifth,” Haughey explained. “Lynchy took all the pressure off me with the save. I was a bit nervous when they [Arsenal] were hitting knowing I was going fifth.” He recounted the experience of placing the ball, executing the shot, and then immediately running to his friends in celebration.
Seated 84 places below Arsenal in the football hierarchy, Haughey remarked on how the significance of the win had not fully registered. “It’s not really hit me yet. I’m here playing FIFA and some of the Arsenal players are in my team. It’s just mad. I’m sitting as if nothing has happened, as if it’s a normal rest day,” he said. Haughey acknowledged the victory holds monumental importance for both the fans and the team alike, encapsulating the thrill he felt in scoring against the Premier League champions.
Looking ahead, Haughey expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming quarter-final draw, which follows Chelsea’s match against Liverpool. “Man City. Simple as that,” he stated when asked whom he would like to face next at Highbury Stadium as Fleetwood seeks to advance further in the cup.
