Jonathan Woodgate's extra-time winner secured a thrilling 2-1 victory for Tottenham Hotspur and denied Chelsea a third Carling Cup triumph in four years.
Woodgate's 94th minute winner separated two evenly-matched sides in an entertaining final after the scores were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Didier Drogba had fired Chelsea into a 39th minute lead, before Dimitar Berbatov equalised from the penalty spot after Wayne Bridge was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box.
Extra-time was required in the first League Cup Final to be held at Wembley since 2000, but the honours went to Spurs when Woodgate inadvertently headed home Jermaine Jenas' extra-time free-kick after Petr Cech had palmed the ball back onto his head.
Meanwhile in an action-packed and highly controversial Premier League weekend, Manchester United closed the gap on Arsenal as the Premier League title race continues to bubble nicely.
However, the weekend's action was overshadowed by a serious injury to Gunners striker Eduardo.
The Croatia international suffered an horrific broken leg in just the second minute at Birmingham City, being caught by a dreadful late challenge by home defender Martin Taylor.
The Gunners' misery was then compounded as a last-gasp James McFadden penalty rescued a point for the Blues from a 2-2 draw, after Theo Walcott's double had given Arsenal the lead.
Manchester United cashed in on Arsenal's failure to take all three points as they heightened the sense of gloom on Tyneside by thrashing Newcastle United 5-1 at St James' Park.
The Red Devils romped into a two-goal lead by half-time, with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo the goalscorers and the Portuguese added the third just before the hour mark.
Abdoulaye Faye pulled a goal back for the Magpies late on, but Rooney curled home a superb late effort and Louis Saha also netted as the visitors did more than enough to move within three points of Arsenal.
Fernando Torres registered a hat-trick as Liverpool built on their midweek Champions League success with a 3-2 home win over Middlesbrough, for whom Tuncay and Stewart Downing were on the scoresheet.
A second-half Jermain Defoe penalty was enough for Portsmouth to secure a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Fratton Park, a result which leaves Roy Keane's side still looking nervously over their shoulders.
Wigan inched clear of trouble with a 2-0 home victory against rock-bottom Derby County, Paul Scharner and Antonio Valencia scoring the crucial goals for the Latics.
Fulham remain one from bottom after a late Nolberto Solano strike condemned Roy Hodgson's side to a 1-0 defeat at home to West ham United, with the Cottagers having Leon Andreasen sent off seep into stoppage time.
In Sunday's action, Aston Villa remain in the hunt for a European place after a hard-earned 2-1 win at struggling Reading.
Ashley Young and Marlon Harewood were on the mark for Martin O'Neill's side as the ailing Royals suffered an eighth consecutive league defeat.
Elsewhere, Blackburn Rovers were comfortable 4-1 winners over Bolton Wanderers in the Lancashire derby.
Benni McCarthy scored a penalty double and further goals from David Bentley and Morten Gamst Pedersen completed the rout at Ewood Park.
