DONEGAL’S rising soccer star Carl McHugh is celebrating tonight – after he played superbly in helping Bradford City knock Arsenal out of the League Cup.
The Lettermacaward native Carl played the biggest game of his professional career as the Yorkshire club took on the English Premiership side in the quarter final.
The game finished 1-1 at full-time – and 30 minutes of extra time failed to separate the sides.
So it went to a penalty shoot-out and Bradford won 3-2.
McHugh had a fantastic night in a game which saw Arsenal take more than 63% of the possession.
And he defended superbly, helping to launch several counter-attacks against the millionaire Gunners.
Carl’s close friend – Donegal GAA star Patrick McBrearty – was amonng the 23,900 crowd at the League Two side’s ground to cheer on City.
In the shoot-out Bradford twice failed from the spot but Santi Cazorla, Marouane Chamakh and Thomas Vermaelen missed with their efforts to the delight of the Bantams.
The home side took the lead when Garry Thompson met a free-kick from the right with a sidefoot volley.
With seconds of normal time remaining, Vermaelen headed in from two yards to send the match into extra-time.
What made the win by the League Two side more remarkable was the fact that Arsene Wenger fielded a full-strength Arsenal team – something he has never done in the League Cup before except in a final.
There were even groans at Valley Parade when the visiting team names were given before kick-off.
But 120 minutes of football later there was nothing but cheers.
