Luton Town on Saturday completed a fairy-tale journey to the English Premier League after beating Coventry City on penalties in the second-tier Championship playoff final at Wembley.
The Hatters secured a fourth promotion in 10 seasons 6-5 in the shoot-out after the sides were tied at 1-1 after 120 minutes.
Financial experts estimate promotion to world football’s most watched league to be worth about ￡170 million (US$210 million) for a club that have been through turmoil since they last played in the top flight 31 years ago.
Photo: AP
Luton are the first club to go from the fifth tier to the top flight in the Premier League era.
Midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu has been on that whole journey and becomes the first player to go from the National League to Premier League with the same club.
“I feel like I completed football,” Mpanzu said. “It’s been a journey. It’s going to be a party all summer.”
Some of the windfall would go to upgrading Kenilworth Road, which with a capacity of just more than 10,000 and set among rows of terraced houses would be hosting the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool next season.
Luton had to recover from an early shock when captain Tom Lockyer collapsed on the field.
The Welsh centerback was stretchered off and taken to a hospital, where the club confirmed he was responsive and able to talk to his family.
“I feel really good, but the only thing I’m thinking about now is Tom Lockyer,” Luton manager Rob Edwards said.
A bright start from Luton was rewarded when Elijah Adebayo’s good work down the left teed up Jordan Clark to smash home at the near post.
Adebayo’s second goal was ruled out before halftime for handball.
Coventry improved after the break when Viktor Gyokeres teed up Gustavo Hamer to fire into the far corner.
The Sky Blues nearly turned the tie around fully within minutes when Matt Godden blazed a big chance over, but tired legs and tension took over in extra-time.
Joe Taylor slotted home after charging down Jonathan Panzo’s clearance, but the goal was ruled out as the ball struck the Luton man’s hand.
All of the first 11 penalties were then scored as the takers showed incredible poise under pressure, but when Fankaty Dabo’s effort sailed over the bar, Luton’s dreams came true.
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
SLOW START: The Warriors took nearly five minutes to score their first points, finally breaking through when Jimmy Butler put in a three-pointer to make it 13-3 Julius Randle on Thursday had 24 points and 11 assists to help the Minnesota Timberwolves capitalize on the absence of Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry in a 117-93 victory that tied the second-round NBA series at a game apiece. The Timberwolves were stewing over their rough start in Game 1 against Golden State, a reaction that coach Chris Finch said he was pleased to see. The foundation was laid in an ornery film session with Finch and his staff the day before. “He was unhappy and he let us know he was unhappy, and we felt that,” Randle said. “We were pretty
RSS