Tamas Priskin stunned Arsenal as Ipswich claimed a 1-0 success over the Gunners in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi at Portman Road.
Ipswich give Jewell shock lead in Carling Cup semi-final
Tamas Priskin stunned Arsenal as Ipswich claimed a 1-0 success over the Gunners in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final at Portman Road.
The Hungary international produced an assured finish 12 minutes from the end of an absorbing contest between the Championship strugglers and the Premier League high-flyers.
Colin Healy's lofted ball forward from midfield found Priskin bursting into space behind the Gunners defence, who were given a stern examination all night, with the former Watford man holding off Emmanuel Eboue and slotting home beyond Wojciech Szczesny.
With new manager Paul Jewell introduced to the Portman Road fans before kick-off, prior to taking his seat in the stands with caretaker Ian McParland in charge of team affairs, the Tractor Boys were a totally different side to the one drubbed 7-0 by Chelsea in the FA Cup third round at the weekend.
Arsene Wenger's men started well, but could not find a way through a resolute Town backline and as the game progressed the hosts emerged as a force to be reckoned with before Priskin's strike gave them an unexpected advantage to take to Emirates Stadium for the second leg.
Both teams made positive starts, with half-chances for Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas, while Ipswich forward Connor Wickham, a reported Arsenal target, was also lively on a slick playing surface.
After 14 minutes, the hosts broke quickly as Priskin received the ball up on the left before cutting inside and unleashing a 20-yard curling effort which flashed just wide.
Arsenal continued to probe, with Walcott drilling his shot across the six-yard box.
Positive
Despite all of their positive build-up, just like on Saturday in their 1-1 FA Cup draw with Leeds, the Premier League side lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
Slowly Ipswich worked their way back into the tie, forcing a couple of corners to give the capacity Suffolk crowd a lift.
Szczesny flapped at a ball into the six-yard box as Gareth McAuley headed over, before Ipswich captain David Norris was inches away from connecting with Wickham's left-wing cross.
The home fans were on their feet when Priskin netted an acrobatic overhead kick after 42 minutes, but celebrations were immediately cut short by an offside flag.
Walcott skipped into the area at the start of the second half, before tripping over the ball - which drew ironic cheers from the home fans after the Arsenal forward had admitted to diving against Leeds.
Fabregas chipped a pass through to Andrey Arshavin down the left, but the diminutive Russian could not control his shot, firing an angled volley high and wide.
Ipswich, though, refused to lay down and continued to take the game to their illustrious visitors, Wickham again catching the eye with some powerful runs.
Mark Kennedy robbed Fabregas and, with Szczesny off his line, tried an audacious 35-yard lob, but the 6ft 5ins Pole recovered quickly to make a comfortable save.
Eboue was then caught in possession by Priskin, but recovered to block the Ipswich striker's goal-bound shot.
Survived
Just after the hour, somehow Arsenal survived when a long ball caught out Koscielny.
For a moment Priskin was clean through on goal, however, Johan Djourou made a brilliant interception to knock the ball over his own crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
As the rain lashed down on Portman Road, Arsenal continued to give the ball away cheaply.
Gibbs cut inside from the left and fired a shot wide from 20 yards, before, after 67 minutes, Wenger made a change when Alex Song replaced Wilshere and Marouane Chamakh came on for the ineffective Nicklas Bendtner.
Arsenal immediately looked to raise the tempo, Fulop making a smart save at his near post after Walcott had been played in by Fabregas.
The Arsenal skipper then put Gibbs' cross over from four yards out off his thigh after Chamakh had just failed to connect.
Ipswich finally made the breakthrough after 78 minutes when Healy's through-ball split the Arsenal centre-backs and Priskin got ahead of Eboue to calmly slot into the bottom right corner.
Wenger immediately sent on pacy Mexican forward Carlos Vela, replacing Arshavin.
The Gunners pressed forward, with Fulop coming out to block Walcott before Szczesny saved from Carlos Edwards at his near post and the Tractor Boys closed out for a famous victory.
| Blackpool |
Team Statistics |
Liverpool |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
4 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 3 |
Corners |
3 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
15 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 74.1 |
Passing Success |
75 |
| 21 |
Tackles |
31 |
| 71.4 |
Tackles Success |
67.7 |
| 46.2 |
Possession |
53.8 |
| 46.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
53.1 |
|
