Key occasions
Here’s Nick Ames’ match report:
Morris says he’s learnt loads how a lot stuff like this implies to the membership, saying he spoke to somebody who’s been watching Luton for greater than 60 years, so hopes he loved tonight. He doesn’t suppose his group turned up on the weekend, and is glad they’d an opportunity to place it proper tonight. He loves coming to work daily, loves Lockyer, and may’t wait to become involved with the celebrations.
Lockyer, in the meantime, says he thought he’d throw his head on the nook from which he scored and see what occurred. He doesn’t suppose any followers will care that Edwards got here from Watford, he permits his gamers to specific themselves and although they had been useless on their toes on the finish, they held on. He’s the official participant of the match, and earned it ion the grand model, not only for his aim however for his management and depth.
And maintain tight Rob Edwards, sacked by Watford, Luton’s rivals, and now going to Wembley. He’s achieved an unimaginable job and wasn’t too treasured to impose a bodily model he knew Sunderland couldn’t deal with.
Lockyer, participant of the match after which some, says they needed to “mix it up” and “be dirty” to beat Sunderland, before the camera cuts out.
It’s all over at San Siro too, Inter winning 1-0 to complete a 3-0 aggregate win. They meet Man City or Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
In the stands, David Pleat and Mick Harford enjoy the moment; this is an incredible achievement by Luton, it really is.
Fans invade the pitch to dance with the players; it’s extremely wholesome. But a word for Sunderland, who’ve had a terrific season; tonight was a game too far, but good things are happening on Wearside, and it’s about time.
Full time: Luton Town (3) 2-0 (2) Sunderland
Less than a decade in the past, Luton had been within the Conference; in fewer than three weeks, they could be a Premier League membership!
90+5 min Roberts mooches down the right, this is Sunderland’s last chance … and he pumps a cross right into Horvath’s arms. That is surely it?!
90+4 min Mpanzu is booked for something or other.
90+3 min But Osho heads away, Lockyer charges over to the line and slams it downfield almost from in the stand, and Drameh races away leading a four on one! all he needs to do is draw Johnson and tee-up whoever he fancies for a tap-in, but instead he shoots himself and a tame effort dribbles past the near post! That was the match right there!
90+3 min But ball down the line sees Huggins charging after it, sliding into a cross that Osho blocks behind for a corner. Up comes Patterson…
90+2 min Lockyer, who’s been an absolute giant, hauls his team up the park – he knows if they keep doing what they’ve been doing, they’re going to Wembley.
90+1 min Now Luton sit back and Roberts finds Clarke, who jinks inside, freeing up Alese on his outside … only to ignore him and look inside where he’s crowded out.
90 min Mchut finds Roberts 25 yards out, he dips inside Nakamba and lamps miles over the top. It’s been that kind of night for Sunderland, who have four minutes to save themselves.
88 min Ach, Clarke finds Diallo 30 yards from goal, but a heavy touch means he’s quickly unloaded. Sunderland have been so poor tonight, but their fans are still giving it plenty, performing footballing defiance in the traditional manner.
86 min Sunderland have had 605 of the ball – it doesn’t feel like that – and 37 v 11 touches in the opposing box, in favour of Luton, better explains what we’ve seen and why the score is as it is.
85 min This is sobering, and given the cash sloshing concerning the sport, completely pointless.
The latest winding up petition by HMRC against Southend United will be heard tomorrow, at some point after 11:30am
— Thomas Feaheny (@ThomasFeaheny) May 16, 2023
84 min A pleasant contact from Morris, flicking his foot to ship the ball behind him for Mpanzu to run onto, however O’Nien is there to see away.
83 min Luton are seeing this out fairly comfortably – to date – and produce on Campbell for Clark.
81 min “Can the pitch size make that much of a difference?” wonders Joe Pearson. “I have the Milan Derby on another screen, and San Siro is 114 X 74. Kenilworth Road is 110 X 72. Frankly, that’s not that much different. The respective camera angles sure make it look smaller, but effectively that doesn’t really seem that material. But what do I know, I’ve never kicked a ball.”
I feel it’s sufficient to make a distinction, as a result of Lurton’s broad centre-backs can keep slim realizing they’ll get out in the event that they need to, and the wing-backs are capable of drop in if essential . If they’re even a few metres additional away, it’s a lot tougher to do.
79 min “Can we please talk about club colours,” beseeches Julian Menz. “Luton’s ‘orange’ has become so red that it would take an out-of-work TV interior designer (Lawrence?) to spot the difference. Not to mention Wolves, whose ‘old gold’ seems to have become Watford yellow. Nitpicking I know, but still….”
I don’t suppose Wolves have performed in outdated gold for many years, however Luton, as soon as upon a time, performed in white – and I agree, this isn’t very orange.
78 min Two extra adjustments for Sunderland: Huggins and Ba on, Gooch and Neil off.
76 min Luton have been so bodily dominant they’ve not sat again to guard their lead as I believed they could. If they hold doing what they’re doing, it’s onerous to see them shedding their lead.
75 min But they win a free-kick down the left, Neil to swerve in … besides he scuffs into the wall then, as Sunderland attempt to maintain the assault, Amad beats his man solely to slide instantly afterwards.
74 min Bit of Sunderland possession, however they’ll’t decide a go by Luton who’re, as we thought, blocking up the center of the pitch. They’ve run out of concepts, and with 15 to go are already in Hail Mary territory.
73 min At San Siro, Lautaro Martinez has completed the tie and given us a correct climbing the terraces celebration. Inter will play within the Champions League closing, in opposition to both Man City or Real Madrid.
71 min I hate to say it, however Sunderland may have to take a leaf out of Luton’s guide, as a result of doing it their means isn’t getting them shut to shut. It’s too late now, but it surely may’ve made sense to maintain Gelhardt on, get Michut up with him, and get the ball ahead shortly.
69 min Sunderland simply can’t get any momentum, Luton pinning, crowding and hustling. And when Roberts sashays down the fitting, Osho upends him pretty, thrashing clear.
68 min I’m unsure Luton will probably be as efficient in the event that they make it to Wembley – Boro might simply go round them in the event that they see off Coventry and play correctly – however I might see them successful sufficient house factors to remain up if issues went very very effectively .
66 min Luton are simply too bodily for Sunderland, particularly on a decent pitch. Mpanzu bustles by a few challenges then wins a free-kick 40 yards out, so the massive lads received ahead. This time, although, O’Nien makes definitive contact and heads into contact.
64 min Sunderland strive one thing completely different, Michut changing Gelhardt – whose attractive ruckus with Lockyer by no means fairly materialised.
63 min Now it’s Rpoberts in assault, skirting throughout Clark earlier than Osho makes the problem.
62 min Again, the supply is great – Clark is a foul man – and Adebayo meets it effectively, however once more Roberts does fantastically to move away, this time from on the road! I hold saying it, however I can’t see how Sunderland rating and don’t concede.
61 min Again, the supply is great, and Roberts does fantastically to move behind from beneath the bar.
60 min Mpanzu into Morris, who slides in Adebayo at inside-right and is he in?! No! Alese fees alongside and does simply sufficient to make the deal with with out conceding a penalty, however Luton do have a nook.
59 min Amad attracts in Nakamba and spins him, solely to go on to Doughty. Sunderland actually need to discover a means of getting him on the ball extra usually.
57 min Change for Sunderland, Pritchard – who’s carrying a knock from the primary leg – changed by Alese. Hell go to left-back with Gooch transferring to proper and Roberts into midfield.
56 min Sunderland once more clear the nook solely to concede one other, and this time Mpanzu pins the keeper earlier than Adebayo heads excessive. I get the sensation that Sunderland may want two to get penalties, as a result of Luton look good for one more set-piece aim.
54 min The away finish are getting behind their group now, and Sunderland are beginning to dominate possession. And supplied Luton don’t rating once more, that will proceed, as the house aspect decide to carry what they’ve … however within the meantime, they win a nook swarming Sunderland as they play out with Drameh making the important thing intervention.
53 min O’Nien carries ahead however Clarke’s go to Gooch, nashing on his outdoors, is needlessly heavy, so the eventuating cross is on the stretch and from the road, so simply cleared.
51 min Sunderland are already trying extra possible, and let’s not neglect that simply final week, they devastated Preston 3-0 after getting in goalless at half-time. Luton, although, won’t provide them comparable area, they usually’ve nonetheless to create an open-play alternative.
50 min “I like to think that Eric Morecambe is currently watching and being very happy at the moment,” tweets Chris Rowe. That’s a extra comforting thought than contemplating a few of Luton’s 80s sorts.
49 min Now Luton surge ahead, Drameh crossing and Adebayo volleying into his personal leg and into the bottom. This has received some tempo about it, and I doubt it’s getting any much less frantic.
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