LUTON TOWN have been promoted to the Premier League after a dramatic penalty shootout at Wembley.
Jordan Clark gave the Hatters an early lead with a stunning finish just after 20 minutes.
But Gustavo Hamer put Coventry on level terms to take the tie into extra time.
After eleven perfect penalties from both sides, Fankaty Dabo missed in sudden death for the Sky Blues granting promotion to Luton.
- MATCH RESULT: Coventry 1-1 Luton (5-6 PENS) – Luton (P)
- Coventry XI: Wilson, Bidwell, Doyle, McFadzean, McNally, Norton-Cuffy, Sheaf, Kelly, Hamer, Allen, Gyokeres
- Luton XI: Hovarth, Drameh, Osho, Lockyer, Bell, Doughty, Ruddock, Nakamba, Clark, Morris, Adebayo
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‘I’ve completed football’
Luton legend Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu joked he has “completed football” after winning promotion to the Premier League.
It is the fourth promotion Ruddock has achieved with Luton in their meteoric rise up the football pyramid.
Ruddock, 29, was part of Luton’s National League championship-winning side in 2013 and has been a keystone figure ever since.
After beating Coventry the midfielder joked he is going to retire after achieving a feat no other player has managed – promotion from every division in the EFL as well as the National League with one club.
He told Sky Sports: “I think I’ve completed football, I think I’ll retire.
“It’s been a journey, I’ve been through the highs and the lows but at the end of the day you’ve got to believe in yourself.
“And here I am, a Premier League player with these boys and the fans. I told you we were going to do it. It’s going to be a party all summer in Luton.”
Luton hero’s hilarious message
Luton hero Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu sent an incredible message to team-mate Tom Lockyer after the defender watched promotion glory in hospital following his scary collapse at Wembley.
Lockyer’s recovery followed initial fears from fans and players a couple of hours earlier as medics from both teams treated him on the pitch.
And the 28-year-old’s improvement sparked relief from his squad plus a cheeky demand from Mpanzu as Luton sealed a Premier League return.
The midfielder joked: “Get off your hospital bed and join us at the party.”
Edwards tears
Rob Edwards broke down in tears while speaking about Tom Lockyer’s injury during the Championship play-off final.
Luton Town managed earn their spot in nest season’s Premier League after beating Coventry on penalties.
However, the Hatters had to do so without the club captain after he collapsed in the first half.
And after the game manager Edwards was visibly emotional when talking about the defender.
He told Sky Sports: “I can’t speak highly enough of him, really pleased he is okay.”
Lockyer celebrates
Tom Lockyer celebrated Luton Town’s Championship play-off final win from his hospital bed.
The club captain was stretchered off the pitch early in the first half after appearing to collapse.
But after the Hatters won the clash by beating Coventry after a penalty shootout, Lockyer was still able to celebrate.
His dad, Steve, shared an incredible photo from the hospital room that he was in at the moment Luton won.
Steve then gave a positive update on his son’s health.
He wrote: “Tom’s Dad here. Tom is ok.
“Very happy but so sad he can’t be there with his team-mates. Here is the moment…….”
Luton Town are Premier League
From 30-point deductions, financial perils and four seasons in non-league, Luton Town are back in the big time.
Are you watching, Watford?
A penny for the thoughts of those at Vicarage Road.
The Hornets plucked Rob Edwards from Forest Green last summer, but dispensed with him just ten games into his reign.
Two months later, he pitched up at fierce rivals Luton and has repaid them by leading them to the promised land of the Premier League.
Midfielder Mpanzu completes football
An emotional Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu insists he has has completed football after winning promotion to the Premier League.
The 29-year-old midfielder has been with Luton since their non-league days, and will now have the chance to play with them at all four levels of the professional pyramid.
I feel like I’ve completed football. I should retire now. But I’m going to come back as a Premier League player.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu
A tip of the Hat
Luton Town have become the first club in English football history to go all the way from the top-flight to non-league and come back again.
The club that were mixing in the National League with the likes of Tamworth, Alfreton Town, and Hayes and Yeading will now play against Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Fankaty Dabo misses!
LUTON TOWN WIN PROMOTION TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
The Coventry defender blazes high over the crossbar and into the ecstatic Luton Town fans behind the goal.
Coventry 5-6 Luton
Dan Potts scores!
The Luton substitute rolls his left-footer into the bottom corner with Ben Wilson heading in the other direction.
Coventry 5-6 Luton
Liam Kelly scores!
So cooly done from the Coventry captain!
Ten perfect penalties, we go to sudden death.
Coventry 5-5 Luton
Luke Berry scores!
Ben Wilson goes the right way, but can’t get near the right-footed strike.
Coventry 4-5 Luton
Josh Eccles scores!
Right footed! No chance, Ethan Horvath.
Coventry 4-4 Luton
Jordan Clark scores!
It nestles into the side netting, neatly inside the left post.
Coventry 3-4 Luton
Ben Sheaf scores!
Another fine penalty, pulled into the top left corner.
Who will blink first?
Coventry 3-3 Luton
Marvelous Nakamba scores!
Cooly done. Left footed, low, into the bottom right corner.
Coventry 2-3 Luton
Viktor Gyokeres scores!
He slams it home, high and emphatically.
Coventry 2-2 Luton
Joe Taylor scores!
And this one does count! Wilson goes the right way, but can’t get near it.
Coventry 1-2 Luton
Matt Godden scores!
Brilliantly taken! The forward fires into the right corner.
Coventry 1-1 Luton
Carlton Morris scores!
He sends Ben Wilson the wrong way and he cooly slots home.
Coventry 0-1 Luton
Spot the difference
The two sets of players – those remaining on the pitch in any case – are being drilled by their coaches and squad mates.
Meanwhile, the captains meet with Michael Oliver for two coin tosses.
The first goes Luton’s way, and the kicks will be taken at the orange end of Wembley.
The second is also won by the Hatters, and they will go first in the shootout.
The two goalkeepers – Ben Wilson and Ethan Horvath – also get a lecture from the referee, and their actions will be closely scrutinised.
Here we go as Carlton Morris approaches…
Full time – Coventry 1-1 Luton
The 2022-23 Championship play-off final will be settled by penalties.
Coventry 1-1 Luton
120. Jonathan Panzo is the luckiest person inside Wembley – and he knows it.
There will be two minutes of additional time to be played.
Coventry 1-1 Luton
118. I doubt there have ever been so many nervous faces in the one place.
You could cut the tension with a knife.
Coventry 1-1 Luton
116. LUTON HAVE WON IT!!!
Or have they?!
Joe Taylor dispossesses a slack Jonathan Panzo, and races through to fire through the legs of Ben Wilson.
The orange half of Wembley erupts, but within seconds those celebrations are tempered.
Quickly the word comes through from VAR that the young forward used his arm to control before going on to score.
Michael Oliver signals the goal will not stand, and the Coventry fans react as if they’ve won promotion.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
