Luton reach Championship play-off final to end Amad's Sunderland dream
Luton are one game away from becoming a Premier League club after reaching this season's Championship play-off final.
The Hatters defeated Sunderland 2-0 at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday night to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg of their semi-final. Gabriel Osho's early goal levelled the tie before Tom Lockyer's header just before half-time ensured a 3-2 aggregate win for Luton.
Sunderland tried to recover in the second half, with exciting Manchester United loanee Amad putting in a defiant display, but there was no stopping Luton. Rob Edwards' side will now face either Coventry of Middlesbrough at Wembley on Saturday, May 27.
Kenilworth Road held non-league football just nine years ago but could welcome the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal soon after one of the most special nights in its 118-year history.
Willed on by a noisy and passionate crowd of 10,013, Luton more than matched their fans' performance with a lion-heart display. And if the Kenny, as it is affectionately known, was to grace the Premier League next term it would add much-needed colour and soul.
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This game more than lived up to its potential with a blink and you’d miss it first half. It took just ten minutes for Luton to wipe out Sunderland’s advantage. Lockyer headed down Jordan Clark’s corner and Osho bundled home from four yards as fans lifted the roof off this famous old fashioned venue.
Amad was lively but failed to make the difference (Getty Images)Will Luton win promotion to the Premier League? Let us know in the comments below!
Back came the Wearsiders with Pierre Ekwah seeing an effort saved by Ethan Horvath and then claiming a penalty after the rebound appeared to hit Amari'I Bell on the hand. Luke O’Nien then came to Sunderland’s rescue with a miraculous double clearance off the line to deny Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo.
The Hatters strike force combined again with Morris firing wide from Adebayo’s pull back as this game was played at 100mph. But Tony Mowbray’s side, again without defenders Danny Batth and Daniel Ballard, could not handle the barrage they were getting from the flanks.
They did not properly clear Alfie Doughty’s initial corner and when the left wing back put in the second cross, Lockyer was there to glance home on 43 minutes. It put Edwards' men 2-0 up and ahead on aggregate... and they had a golden chance at the start of the second half.
O’Nien gave the ball away to Clark who fired wide with the goal open. Despite regularly playing in front of over 30,000 on home soil, Sunderland looked overawed by both the prospect of getting back into the game and silencing the home followers.
Expectations on them were low despite winning the League One play-offs last term, having only earned a place in this year’s Championship competition on the final day. They did have a chance as Patrick Roberts’ run resulted in a tame shot, easily gathered by Horvath.
Luton invited more pressure but Sunderland struggled get close with Roberts firing off target tamely. Home defender Cody Drampeh missed a glorious chance after Anthony Patterson had gone up for a late corner but they did not spoil a glorious Hatters night.
The prospect of the big boys coming to Luton's run-down 1950s style venue next season in the top flight is now a very real prospect.
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