Underdogs: Bradford Knocked Out Three Premier League Sides

Everyone loves a story of an underdog. Bradford City's 2012/13 League Cup campaign is a story about an underdog that almost ended with gold. They were thrashed 5-0 by Premier League side Swansea City in the final at Wembley Stadium. But on the way to the final, Bradford performed one of the greatest cup achievements in the history of football. Bradford City Football Club was the first fourth-tier team to reach a major English cup final for 51 years. The feat of a fourth-tier side beating Premier League teams Wigan, Arsenal, and Aston Villa en route to the Carling Cup final at Wembley is the stuff of dreams.

Fourth round against Wigan Athletic

Bradford City Football Club reached the quarter-finals of the Cup with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out victory over Premier League side Wigan Athletic. Shaun Maloney and Jordi Gomez both missed from the spot as Wigan lost on penalties against Bradford. Bradford then followed it up by beating two more top-flight teams.

Quarterfinal against Arsenal

Bradford knocked out a full-strength Arsenal side by beating the Gunners 3-2 on penalties. They battled hard in the 120 minutes and deserved the victory. Thanks to a Garry Thompson goal, Bradford led from the 16th to the 87th minute of the match. Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen took the game to extra time with a late equaliser but he failed to score on the final kick of the shoot-out.

Semifinal against Aston Villa

Bradford defeated Aston Villa 4-3 over two games in the semifinal. The 2-1 loss at Villa Park followed a 3-1 win at home two weeks earlier. Bradford's players celebrated the loss that counted as a victory, in front of their ecstatic fans. Bradford was the first club from the fourth tier to reach the final since Rochdale in 1962.

Swansea was superior in the final

Fourth consecutive Premier League team became too difficult for heroic Bradford. This story about an underdog had no fairytale ending. Swansea City put an end to a fantastic Bradford campaign by a 5-0 trashing at Wembley.

Bradford City Football Club won their only major title in 1911, when they beat Newcastle 1-0 in a FA Cup final replay. The club was founded 110 years ago (1903). Bradford did not win the trophy at Wembley but they won promotion at the same stadium some months later. Bradford defeated Northampton Town 3-0 to secure a place third tier in the English football league system 2013/14.

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The English League Cup is open to all 92 members of the Premier League (20 teams) and the Football League (72 teams).