Martins on cloud nine with Wembley goal

LONDON.
Birmingham striker Obafemi Martins insists he has never scored an easier goal than the last minute tap-in at Wembley that stunned Arsenal and gave his new club their first major trophy since 1963.
Martins has only been at Birmingham for one month and yet he is already guaranteed to be remembered as a Blues legend after the Nigerian punished a disastrous error by Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to seal a shock 2-1 victory over the Gunners in Sunday’s League Cup final.
When the former Newcastle star returned to the Premier League on loan from Rubin Kazan just before the close of the January transfer window, he couldn’t have imagined such a dream start to life back in England.
Martins came on as a substitute late in Sunday’s match, which looked destined for extra-time until Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny’s miscued attempt to clear startled Szczesny into fumbling the ball straight to the striker, who had the simple task of slotting into the empty net.
After celebrating with an extravagant back-flipping somersault, Martins almost scored again but his 90th minute strike was enough to secure Birmingham’s first significant silverware since they last won this trophy nearly 50 years ago.
“I have scored a lot of important goals but since I was at Inter Milan this is the most important because it won a trophy,” Martins said.
“I think this is the easiest goal I’ve ever scored in my career and it’s very important.
“I’m glad I scored and I’m glad we won. I think it was my second touch.
“The gaffer (Alex McLeish) said to me that I would come on in the second half, so I think he did it right.
“It means a lot to the fans and players, we really need this trophy.”
“The chance came and I took my time. Sometimes as a striker you just have to be there,” he said. – AFP.