The Sheffield Wednesday players are celebrating their incredible comeback. proved once again that the EFL play-offs produce some of the most magical sights and sounds in the English game.
Last gash equalizer, extra time, penalties, massive field invasion: Sheffield Wednesday Drama League Just one semi-final playoffs, second leg victory over Peterborough United.
For sheer drama, the match showed off the end-of-season lottery in all its glory. Manchester City are within arm's reach of Arsenal for the Premier League title, but has the top division, at least at the top level, really produced anything as exciting this season as the events that unfolded in Hillsborough?
the play-offs have witnessed endless drama over the years, with Derby winning memorably at Leeds in 2019, avenging the Spy Gates saga.
Who can forget Troy Dini's last-minute win for Watford against Leicester in 2013 and Charlton's win over Sunderland on penalties in the 1998 Division I final after the match ended 4-4?
Joyful Wednesday fans join Hillsborough revival crusade. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire
Even neutral observers can sense the tension, and the journalists who gathered in the Hillsborough press box certainly did. It's not that the ranks of insane writers didn't appreciate the thrilling story that unfolded before them, it's just that the timing of key events proved a little awkward due to the approaching deadlines.
Nevertheless, it was all for the good. Darren Moore's Owls victory was as convincing as anything that had been seen since the English game introduced the playoffs in 1987.
Who knows if the Premier League will ever be able to introduce play-off matches to decide European competition and relegation places? Of course, the thousands of Wednesday fans who sailed away from Hillsborough last night will never forget what they witnessed.
For Wednesday, one of the great old clubs of English football, the victory was something pure, a football fairy tale and something to be enjoyed on a truly magical night. They'll be talking about the «Hillsborough Miracle» — the night the sleeping giant of English football rose from the dead to complete a rather stunning resurrection for a century.
Wednesday lost 4-0 at Peterborough. in the first match last Friday. Darren Moore, their affable and media-friendly manager, was even subjected to horrendous racist abuse on social media by a man claiming to be a Wednesday fan.
The tie seemed to be over, with no team yet to close the four goals in the first leg to win the play-off semi-finals.
Wednesday couldn't do that, could it? Well, actually, it turns out they could. They led 2-0 at half-time, scored again in the second half and then made it 4-0 in stoppage time the night before the sides traded extra-time goals. This resulted in Moore's fighters winning the match 5-1 after 120 minutes and equalizing the score at 5-5 on aggregate, leading to a penalty where the hosts prevailed 5-3.
Liam Palmer equalizes after eight minutes of stoppage time. Premier League since 2000 and not much has changed since then. Numerous relegations, years of stagnation, and sometimes ignominious failures have left deep scars on their legions of followers.
But it was their evening, and it led to a massive invasion of the field by thousands of distraught home fans, and the announcer's messages stadium «please leave the field» were ignored.
Former Owls manager Brian Lowes, who covered the game for local radio, told Telegraph Sport: «It was one of the most wonderful turns I've ever seen in my life.
«I don't think I've ever been I'll see something like this again someday.
«The way Wednesday did it brought the players, management and fans together.
“Darren stayed focused and set up his players for the second shot and also honed his tactics. He went old school, boxing, recycling and keeping the ball alive. It worked and it gave them the win.»
On Monday, Moore's team will look to finish what they started against Barnsley or Bolton Wanderers at Wembley.
Lowes added: «Yes the story to be written here is a team that scored 96 points, went 23 games unbeaten and still hasn't moved up automatically.
“But right now there is a promotion for them at Wembley and Sheffield Wednesday fans alone could probably fill that spot.”
Moore summed up, saying: “They will be showing that for a long time to come.” years.
And it was true. And again, the playoffs are emphasized.
Wednesday will see the biggest return to the playoffs in Football League history
By Telegraph Sport
Sheffield Wednesday v Peterborough 2022-23 L1 Playoffs < p>Sheffield Wednesday made the most incredible comeback in EFL history to reach the Sky Bet League One play-off final, eventually beating Peterborough United 5-3 on penalties after overcoming a four-goal deficit in the first leg. 5-1 win after extra time.
Hillsborough needed early goals to give home supporters hope after five days of bitter recriminations following their defeat at London Road, and he scored two goals in the first 25 minutes thanks to a Michael Smith penalty and a left-footed finish by Lee Gregory. Despite this, Peterborough still had a chance with the help of Efron Mason-Clark and Kwame Poku to end the tie, but Cameron Dawson was determined to deny them.
Rhys James pushed the hosts to one from Peterborough. the overall lead with 20 minutes left and Liam Palmer lifted the Hillsborough roof as he made four with the last hit in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
Peterborough again took the lead in extra time after Gregory nodded into his own net and Wednesday's extraordinary equalization by Calum Paterson resulted in a penalty. Butler hit the bar with his only miss in the shootout.
"This is the best game I've ever played" Wednesday linebacker Barry Bannan said. "I'm so happy because all these guys deserve it. I give everything for this club to promote us. Everyone wrote us off, but we showed that we are made of strong material. We're halfway there.
«Those who booed us last week saying we weren't fit to wear a shirt, take a look at this.»
Following Friday's loss, Wednesday Manager Darren Moore was subjected to racist slurs on social media, with Bennan dedicating the win to him. «What he's done is just incredible to change the mindset of the players.» He said. “I am so proud of him for how he handled himself this week after the racism he experienced. This is for him"
"I've never seen anything like it" Moore said. "To score at the end and keep going was magic for me"
Fans in Hillsborough ran onto the field after the shootout as the party started. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Wednesday's desire to score an early goal came true after Joe Ward knocked down Marvin Johnson in the box. Smith sent Will Norris the wrong way, closing the gap to three in just eight minutes, and breathed life into the meeting.
Peterborough had a chance to regain their lead 10 minutes later when Poku was in space inside the area but landed a straight shot on Dawson.
The away caught Wednesday at half-time when they were looking for the first second and had more one chance, but Dawson again thwarted Mason-Clark's efforts from outside the penalty area.
Owls. Peterborough's combined lead was halved after 25 minutes when Paterson was again off the field with the ball, his low cross was converted by Gregory and goalkeeper Norris was in a quandary.
Peterborough remained a threat on the counterattack. attacking and almost scored a much-needed goal when Mason-Clark latched on to Jack Taylor's pass, but Dawson parried it for the second time in half to keep the score 2-0.
Dan Butler hit the bar with the only miss in the shootout. Photo: PA 
Liam Palmer (left) scored the fourth goal on Wednesday to equalize. to deflect Gregory's bicycle kick from the goal.
Wave after wave of attacks hit the guests on Wednesday' defenses that seemed to be stumbling in a draw, and Josh Windass' first shot was met by Norris to prevent another goal.
It seemed that Moore's appearance was only a matter of time; His side struck again and they did just that when James found himself one on one with Norris and cold-bloodedly scored home to cause a hassle in the last 20 minutes.
The hosts thought they had scored the fourth, but Dominic Iorfa's free kick landed right in Norris' grateful grip.
Michael Smith. Photo: Pennsylvania
Peterborough appeared to have booked his place at Wembley, but there were other ideas on Wednesday as the clock moved to the 98th minute, a long ball in the penalty area was met Aden Flint's head and Palmer headed home to take the game to extra time.
The guests took the lead in this remarkable playoff meeting when Butler headed free-kick into his own net. Gregory under pressure from Nathan Thompson.
Wednesday looked down and down again but roared to equalize in the 112th minute when Paterson fired on goal to send the game to a shoot-out and miss Butler. turned out to be decisive as Hunt's winning kick set off a frenzy on the pitch.
Wednesday will play the winners of the second semi-final between Bolton and Barnsley in the final at Wembley Stadium on Monday 29 May.
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