Arsenal came back from the brink of a League Cup exit against League One Doncaster to win 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out at Belle Vue on Wednesday and book their place in this season’s semifinals.
It looked as if Doncaster, who were playing non-league football just more than two years ago, were going through 2-1 in extra-time only for Brazil World Cup-winner Gilberto to snatch an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of the additional 30 minutes.
Gilberto put Arsenal, fielding a second-string team, ahead in the shoot-out before Michael McIndoe levelled. Pascal Cygan then made it 2-1 before Doncaster’s Stephen Roberts hit the post.
Substitute Sebastian Larsson chipped in to make it 3-1 and then home striker Paul Hefferan saw his weakly struck spot kick well-saved by impressive goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
There was another twist when Arsenal’s Aleksander Hleb saw his penalty saved by Doncaster’s Danish ‘keeper Jan Budtz to keep Rovers in the tie.
But Paul Green, who’d put Doncaster 2-1 up in extra time, then saw Almunia block his penalty effort to ensure two-times League Cup winners Arsenal went through to the last four where they will now be away to Wigan.
In next month’s other two-legged semifinal, Blackburn — who beat Middlesbrough 1-0 on Wednesday thanks to Paul Dickov’s 90th-minute goal — will be away to Manchester United.
Relieved Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hinted he might change his policy of fielding under-strength sides in the League Cup for what will be Premiership high-flyers Wigan’s first major semifinal.
”We will have a very tough game against Wigan. We play first over there. I will see what I will do because it will be a unique opportunity for them to go to the final and we want to go to the final as well.
”It will be a very exciting game,” the Frenchman added.
Meanwhile, Doncaster boss Dave Penney was left to reflect on how close his side had come to yet another shock result after already beating Premiership duo Manchester City and Aston Villa this season.
”It’s a cruel way, isn’t it? A minute to go in extra time when you are hanging on trying to win it. We know it went with us on penalties against Manchester City and obviously the dejection of losing to Arsenal.
”The players were magnificent today. We were playing against some top-quality footballers.”
McIndoe, who had scored from the spot in the wins over City and Villa, was on target from open play as early as the fourth minute.
Rovers held on to the lead for nearly an hour until Gunners striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie levelled in the 63rd minute when his shot was deflected in by Sean Thornton.
Neither side could force another goal in normal time, but substitute Green capitalised on a dreadful defensive howler by Philippe Senderos to restore Rovers’ lead in the 104th minute.
A defeat against a side 44 places below them in the league, and who last reached the last eight of the League Cup in 1976, would have added to Arsenal’s woes after last weekend’s 2-0 Premiership loss to leaders Chelsea.
That left Arsenal 20 points behind the reigning champions and some of the shine was removed from Wednesday’s result by the sight of Dutch striker Robin van Persie limping off injured in the first half. — Sapa-AFP