Bantams stun Latics to make last eight
Bradford booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Capital One Cup after causing a major shock with a penalty shoot-out victory at Wigan.
A Latics side featuring nine changes from Saturday's Barclays Premier League victory over West Ham created a host of opportunities but could not make a breakthrough during the 90 minutes or in extra-time as their spirited npower League Two opponents held on for spot-kicks.
Shaun Maloney then blazed his penalty over and Jordi Gomez saw his saved as the visitors advanced to the last eight of the competition.
Wigan looked comfortable in the early stages and thought they had taken the lead in the 10th minute when Ivan Ramis, captain for the night, headed home Gomez's free-kick, only to see the referee's assistant raise their flag.
Five minutes later Mauro Boselli found himself through on goal, but he made a hash of an attempt to go around Matt Duke, appearing to roll his foot over the ball, and the goalkeeper was able to save.
Boselli then nodded down a Ronnie Stam cross for the lively Gomez, who volleyed over the bar.
Bradford struggled to get into the game, but after Nahki Wells almost pounced as Ali Al Habsi rushed to clear away a poor back-pass by Ramis, the visitors seemed to grow in confidence.
Wells struck an effort off-target moments later and the Bantams then had a penalty appeal waved away as James Hanson went down in the box under the attention of Ben Watson.
Duke collected a shot on the turn from Boselli, but Bradford continued to enjoy some attacking possession, with Wells being perhaps a little wasteful by hitting a long-range attempt that bounced through harmlessly to Al Habsi.
Wigan almost grabbed the lead right at the end of the first half, though, when Gomez met a lofted ball into the area first time, bringing a good stop out of Duke.
The hosts looked to take control of proceedings again after the break, with David Jones having a shot saved before Gomez just failed to finish from Boselli's tee-up as Bradford scrambled the ball away.
Danny Redmond, one of two first-time starters for the Latics along with Fraser Fyvie, then headed wide from Stam's delivery.
Bradford issued a warning at the other end as Zavon Hines burst down the right and fired in a shot that Al Habsi kept out with a great save, but Watson swiftly hit back with a drilled effort which was parried by Duke.
With it still being anyone's game and only just over 10 minutes of normal time remaining, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez brought on Maloney and Jean Beausejour for Callum McManaman and Redmond.
That gave the Latics more impetus, with Fyvie dragging a shot wide and Boselli striking one low and hard which Duke got behind.
Bradford skipper Nathan Doyle then sent an effort skidding just the wrong side of Al Habsi's post and, after Boselli miscued a header in front of goal and Maloney fired wide, the contest went into extra-time.
Wigan piled on the pressure at the start of the additional period, with Duke doing well to deny Boselli, who also hit the side-netting in between a Beausejour attempt that deflected over and Gomez shot that went wide.
Boselli was not making the most of the chances that came his way, seeing another header in a good position amount to nothing before sending a low shot inches wide when he had the time and space to do better.
He again failed to finish shortly into the second half of extra-time, clipping tamely into Duke's arms, and Gomez was then guilty of profligacy, fluffing a one-on-one opportunity.
Duke was called into action late on to keep Maloney at bay before it was confirmed that a shootout would be required.
Bradford were unerring with their spot-kicks, but Maloney ballooned his over before Duke blocked Gomez's attempt to send Wigan crashing out and the visitors through.
Source: DSG
