Wigan beat Arsenal with Scharner goal

LONDON – A debut goal from Austrian defender Paul Scharner gave Wigan Athletic a 1-0 victory over twice former winners Arsenal in their League Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

Scharner, who came on as a 33rd-minute substitute for the injured Ian McCulloch, rose at the far post to powerfully head in a deep cross from Gary Teale with 12 minutes remaining. “I was really disappointed with our first -half performance but we responded in the second half and all credit to the players,” Wigan manager Paul Jewell told Sky Sports.”They gave it everything they had and deserved to win.In the second half we were so much better and I was pleased we showed what we are all about.”Promoted Wigan, riding high in sixth place in their first season in the Premier League, made seven changes for their maiden appearance in the semi-finals of a major cup competition.Arsenal, who rested captain Thierry Henry, also made four alterations to the team which beat Cardiff City 2-1 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.Both sides seemed affected by the wholesale changes with only one shot on target in the opening period.Teale’s low free kick forced a diving side from visiting goalkeeper Manuel Almunia while Freddie Ljungberg missed a good chance at the other end, spooning a 12-metre shot over the crossbar.A floodlight failure interrupted the match for 15 minutes in the second half.”It’s a new one for me.I was as surprised as anyone when the lights went out but you have to be guided by the experts,” said referee Howard Webb.Goalmouth incidents were few and far between when the players returned to the field.Arsenal, who won the trophy in 1987 and 1993, struggled to get in the game and had a narrow escape midway through the second half when Ljungberg nodded a header from Andreas Johansson off the line.The second leg at Highbury is on Jan.24.The first leg of the other semi-final between Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United yesterday.- Nampa-Reuters”I was really disappointed with our first -half performance but we responded in the second half and all credit to the players,” Wigan manager Paul Jewell told Sky Sports.”They gave it everything they had and deserved to win.In the second half we were so much better and I was pleased we showed what we are all about.”Promoted Wigan, riding high in sixth place in their first season in the Premier League, made seven changes for their maiden appearance in the semi-finals of a major cup competition.Arsenal, who rested captain Thierry Henry, also made four alterations to the team which beat Cardiff City 2-1 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.Both sides seemed affected by the wholesale changes with only one shot on target in the opening period.Teale’s low free kick forced a diving side from visiting goalkeeper Manuel Almunia while Freddie Ljungberg missed a good chance at the other end, spooning a 12-metre shot over the crossbar.A floodlight failure interrupted the match for 15 minutes in the second half.”It’s a new one for me.I was as surprised as anyone when the lights went out but you have to be guided by the experts,” said referee Howard Webb.Goalmouth incidents were few and far between when the players returned to the field.Arsenal, who won the trophy in 1987 and 1993, struggled to get in the game and had a narrow escape midway through the second half when Ljungberg nodded a header from Andreas Johansson off the line.The second leg at Highbury is on Jan.24.The first leg of the other semi-final between Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United yesterday.- Nampa-Reuters