Fleetwood played Arsenal on Tuesday with 83 places separating the teams and most home fans arriving in hope rather than any expectation.
asserted
fans → play → hope
But remarkably, it was the hosts who booked their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final thanks to their penalty shootout win over the Gunners.
asserted
who → book → Gunners
For the Cod Army, who won six promotions in 12 years in their impressive journey from non-league, this result will surely be remembered longest of all.
asserted
result → win → all
Against the reigning Premier League champions, the club from a small seaside town in Lancashire created history in claiming one of the biggest cup upsets ever.
asserted
club → reign → upsets
Aaron Loupalo-Bi gave the hosts the lead after 21 minutes but, after the break, Viktor Gyokeres pulled the visitors level.
And from there, they might have been expected to take charge but Fleetwood remained resolute, prospering from a wasteful performance from Arsenal that included Max Dowman being sent off for kicking out after a robust challenge from Harrison Neal.
Fleetwood, who sit 18th in League Two having won just once in their past eight league games, dared to dream and took the game to penalties, with fans spilling on to the pitch in the after Conor Haughey's decisive spot kick.
uncertain
fans → give → kick
"The biggest night in the club's history in terms of opposition coming to town and we've managed to beat the champions," boss Matt Lawlor told Sky Sports in the aftermath of his side's stunning victory.
asserted
Lawlor → come → victory
"I'm a big football fan and I watch National League all the way through to the Premier League, Championship.
asserted
I → watch → League
So for me it was a tough game to prepare for, but I'm just so glad that the lads have the feeling the way they are and took that performance in to make that town, the club, everyone proud."
asserted
town → prepare → performance
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, left-back Jake Batty added: "Our league form's not being as good as what we'd want it to be and for some reason cup competitions everyone gets a bit of a fire in their belly.
asserted
everyone → speak → belly
We just came up with some magical moments and obviously that's one to tell the grandkids, isn't it?
asserted
it → come → grandkids
"We've struggled.
asserted
We → struggle → ?
We're not known as a big club in League Two.
asserted
We → know → League
We get a few thousand fans each game, and just the buzz around the town, you could see the fans in the shootout and all game.
uncertain
you → get → shootout
"That's what we encourage to bring on Saturday.
asserted
we → encourage → Saturday
That's what we want on Saturday.
asserted
we → want → Saturday
"Why can't we replicate that and get 5,000 fans behind us every game and, and give us that momentum?"
asserted
we → replicate → momentum
Batty added that on reaching the finals for the first time since their arrival in the English Football League in 2012, they should be "fearless" and hope for a home tie.
asserted
they → add → tie
"It's unbelievable for the town and hopefully we can get someone else at home and do exactly the same thing," he said.
"
asserted
he → get → thing
I don't think we should be scared of any team."
asserted
we → think → team
On 20 April 2024, Fleetwood's relegation from League One was confirmed, capping off a miserable season for the club on the pitch.
asserted
relegation → confirm → pitch
That same day, Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 at Molineux to go top of the Premier League.
asserted
Arsenal → beat → League
They would finish that campaign second, but won the title two years later.
asserted
They → finish → title
Meanwhile, Fleetwood have held their heads above water in League Two - and the league is very much in mind for Lawlor, with his side facing Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
asserted
side → hold → Saturday
"It's really hard to address the players.
asserted
It → address → players
I've just said to enjoy it and then we've got a league game on Saturday," he added.
asserted
he → say → Saturday
"I didn't want to be the bearer of the reality, but we've got a game."
asserted
we → want → game
It was Haughey who ultimately struck the winning penalty to send the hosts through, yet it was goalkeeper Jay Lynch who tipped the shootout in their favour.
asserted
who → strike → favour
He pulled off superb saves to deny Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Bruno Guimaraes and was left hoarse in the aftermath of a stunning victory at a windy Highbury.
asserted
He → pull → Highbury
It was a victory which he likened to Grimsby's triumph over Manchester United in the competition last season.
asserted
he → liken → competition
"My voice has gone from organising the defence," he told Sky Sports.
asserted
he → go → Sports
"We took heart from Grimsby beating Man Utd last year.
asserted
Grimsby → take → Utd
We kind of compared it.
asserted
We → compare → it
We were expecting a storm, we knew the conditions would be horrible, so we thought it might go in our favour.
uncertain
it → expect → favour
Honestly it means everything to everyone."
asserted
it → mean → everyone
'You question why you follow your team'
asserted
you → question → team
Fleetwood's win is made all the more impressive when their recent results are taken into consideration.
asserted
results → make → consideration
They had conceded six goals in their two games leading into the tie - first from a 4-2 loss away at Cheltenham and then Saturday's long journey down to Exeter, which culminated in a 2-1 defeat.
asserted
which → concede → defeat
"I don't even know my own name right now.
asserted
I → know → name
My phone is blowing up, and I think I have had about 500 messages in the past half an hour," Fleetwood Town fan Ben said speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live.
asserted
Ben → blow → Radio
"I have followed this football club for the past 15 years.
asserted
I → follow → years
…and 2 more, not listed.
The Aporia
