Third tier Brentford knocked Premier League Everton out of the English Football League Cup on penalties in the shock result of the third round on Tuesday.
The Bees, 19th in League One, came from a goal behind against the Merseysiders, 19th in the top flight, to come back to 1-1 at full-time.
Extra-time could not separate the sides and come the penalty shoot-out, Brentford held their nerve, with the west London team on target with all four of their kicks and Everton missing twice to spark a joyous pitch invasion at Griffin Park.
Brentford keeper Richard Lee saved Jermaine Beckford’s spot-kick with the scores at 3-3 before Charlie MacDonald, who had earlier missed a penalty in normal time, scored to put the pressure on Phil Jagielka, who fired his shot at the post.
Full-back Seamus Coleman had earlier given Everton a sixth-minute lead, but Gary Alexander headed Brentford level four minutes before half-time.
“We just couldn’t score,” said Everton manager David Moyes, whose side have now gone four games without a win. “We should have got it out of sight.”
He added: “We abused the opportunities we had to score and knew that they would keep coming and in football you have to take those chances when they come.”
Delighted Brentford boss Andy Scott said: “It’s the biggest win as a game for me as a manager.”
“They have played their fist team and brought on [Stephen] Pienaar, [Mikael] Arteta and Beckford so we have come up against a very strong side and have beaten them,” he said.
Penalties also played their part across the capital as Samir Nasri scored twice from the spot in extra-time as Arsenal beat North London rivals Tottenham 4-1. Henri Lansbury had given the Gunners a first-half lead at White Hart Lane, Robbie Keane equalized just after the interval.
Nasri struck twice after he had been brought down by Sebastian Bassong and Marouane Chamakh pulled back by Steven Caulker. Andrey Arshavin added a fourth goal.
The only concern for Arsene Wenger was an injury to Kieran Gibbs.
Burnley, now in the Championship, made it an unwelcome return to Turf Moor for former manager Owen Coyle as they beat his Premier League Bolton side 1-0 thanks to Wade Elliott’s 45th minute volley, ruled a goal after the linesman informed referee Mark Clattenburg the ball had crossed the line.
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