Sheffield Wednesday goes again to the EFL Championship after Josh Windass scored within the dying moments of additional time to beat Barnsley 1-0 at Wembley.
Windass’ diving header from the penalty spot within the 123rd minute of the playoff match put the Owls 1-0 up over its promotion rival, who have been right down to 10 males.
The purpose, scored with six seconds of additional time to play, additional cemented the Windass identify into English soccer’s playoff folklore, after his father, Dean, scored a late winner at Wembley that earnt Hull City promotion to the Premier League 15 years in the past.
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Barnsley was taking part in with ten males for greater than 70 minutes after Adam Phillips was controversially despatched off early within the second half. In the forty ninth minute, Phillips lunged in on Lee Gregory and copped a straight purple card from referee Tim Robinson.
Five minutes later, Barnsley got here agonisingly to a purpose when Liam Kitching cleverly diverted a shot onto the Wednesday crossbar.
A surprising extra-time purpose from Wednesday substitute Will Vaulks, the place his first-time shot flew into the highest nook, was disallowed when assistant referee Akil Howson raised his flag for offside.
But the 44,000 Wednesday followers celebrated in model when Windass replicated his father’s heroics within the dying moments of the match, guaranteeing the Owls returned to the Championship after a two-year hiatus.
Sheffield Wednesday gamers rejoice. Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“It’s the stuff goals are made from,” Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore stated.
“You couldn‘t write it. It completed a titanic recreation that ebbed and flowed each methods.
“This is a particular second for me as a result of it means so many individuals in Sheffield are glad and constructive. When a soccer membership does properly you see the knock-on it has within the metropolis, in the neighborhood.
“It goes to point out that the not possible might be achieved. It‘s a fairytale story.”
Wednesday completed the common League One season third on 96 factors, the best whole in EFL historical past that didn’t result in automated promotion.
The Owls misplaced 4-0 within the first leg of their semi-final in opposition to Peterborough, however miraculously fought again the next week to guide their spot within the playoff in opposition to Barnsley. Monday’s victory, which Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan known as “the very best second of my life”, wrapped up one probably the most dramatic paths to promotion within the league’s historical past.
Wednesday accompanies Plymouth and Ipswich into England‘s second tier.
Darren Moore, supervisor of Sheffield Wednesday. Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSheffield Wednesday followers rejoice. Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
