LUTON have reached the Championship play-off final after overcoming Sunderland.
The Hatters won 3-2 on aggregate and 2-0 at the night in front of a wild Kenilworth Road.
They will now face Middlesbrough or Coventry in the final at Wembley on May 27.
- Result: Luton 2-0 Sunderland (3-2)
- Luton XI: Horvath, Drameh, Lockyer, Morris, Adebayo, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Clark, Bell, Osho, Doughty
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Hume, O’Nien, Gooch, Roberts, Neil, Ekwah, Clarke, Amad, Pritchard, Gelhardt
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Fans celebrate monumental victory
If you had told the Luton fans they would be heading to Wembley for the play-off final, most would not have believed you.
However, Rob Edwards came in as manager during the season and was able to get this side to kick on from their early season form to put them one game away from the unthinkable.
The fans celebrated as if they had already secured promotion, it is a carnival atmosphere at Kenilworth Road.
Credit: Getty Credit: Getty The Hatters are off to Wembley
Rob Edwards’ side are one game away from Premier League football.
They have worked so hard this season to finish third in the Championship table but more often than not, league positions mean nothing when it comes to the play-offs.
On this occasion, Luton have kept the dream alive and will be waiting to see whether it is Middlesbrough or Coventry that they face at Wembley.
Credit: @LutonTown Play off drama continues at Luton
One thing you can guarantee from the EFL play-offs is drama and tonight was no different.
It was a cagey start to the game as both sets of players showed passion, commitment and grit.
Luton got the first goal and the roof came off the stadium but once they got their second goal, their fans knew the dream was on.
They will be partying long into the night and there will be some sore heads tomorrow no doubt.
Hatters mad for shot at promotion
Luton Town’s fans are all on the pitch as they celebrate their first ever play off victory in EFL competition.
They await to see who they will face in the final but they do not care as they have booked their place at Wembley.
From the first minute to the last, you could see how much every single one of their players wanted this tonight.
FT: Luton 2-0 Sunderland
Unbelievable scenes at Kenilworth Road.
You can see how much this means to these Luton fans.
They are going to Wembley for the play-off final and after tonight’s performance, completely deserve it.
FT: Luton 2-0 Sunderland (Agg: 3-2)
The referee blows his whistle to bring an end to the game.
Kenilworth Road erupts as Luton make it through to the play-off final.
Absolute scenes.
Luton Town are going to Wembley.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
90+4. Even the goalkeeper has come up now for the corner.
It is headed clear and Luton break with four players onto one defender.
There is not even a keeper in the goal and he tries to do it all himself instead of squaring the ball for a certain goal.
What a waste.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
90+2. As Sunderland look to work the ball into the box, Luton put in some timely tackles to block the shots.
Eventually hoofing the ball clear downfield.
They know all they need to do now is to keep the visitors out.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
90. All it will take for Sunderland is to score one goal and they will take this tie to extra time.
Michut looks to shoot from about 25 yards out but the ball goes sailing over the crossbar.
We are going to have four minutes of added time here.
Credit: PA
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
88. Diallo twists and turns on the edge of the Luton box.
He steps over the ball and looks to take it passed the defender but his route to goal is blocked.
There just seems to be no way through for the visitors.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
86. Time is starting to run out for Sunderland.
Tony Mowbray looks like a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders, stood on the touchline.
The home fans are making this a cauldron of noise in these final minutes.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
84. Morris receives the ball from a throw in and looks to feed it into the path of Adebayo.
He drops his shoulder and cuts inside but the Sunderland defender gets an important touch to take the ball away from him.
Immediately, Sunderland go up the other end of the pitch, searching for a goal.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
82. This game is end to end stuff now.
Sunderland desperate to find the goal that will draw the tie level.
Luton know, a goal now would all but put this game to bed.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
80. Tony Mowbray’s side seem tonight as if they are lacking ideas of how to break down this Luton defence.
Eventually the ball is swept into the box but there are no attackers to get on the end of it.
Alastair Cook is spotted in the home end cheering Luton on.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty Luton 2-0 Sunderland
78. Luton are camped out in their own half currently.
Happy to absorb the Sunderland advances keeping them from having shots at goal.
Tony Mowbray is looking to make some more changes.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
76. Sunderland have a free kick in a wide position.
The ball is drilled in but immediately cleared.
As Luton clear the ball upfield, there is no players there to do anything with it.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
74. Luton are standing up to the visitors as they manage to get the ball into the final third.
Not pressing, but ensuring that Sunderland have no options to thread the ball through at all.
Sunderland are starting to get frustrated.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
72. Morris comes charging forward down the left flank.
Looking to beat his man and get into the penalty area.
Sunderland get numbers over to give him no option to get the cross in.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
70. Sunderland are desperately trying to get forward themselves.
They just cannot seem to manufacture anything in front of goal.
Luton are getting numbers behind the ball and crowding them out.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty Luton 2-0 Sunderland
68. Luton’s players are getting stuck into every challenge.
Even when Sunderland are looking to hack the ball clear, they are managing to block it and prevent them getting out of their half.
It is looking difficult for the visitors to find the goal they need when all they are doing is defending.,
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
66. Luton win a free kick deep in Sunderland territory.
The ball is clipped into the box but the visitors half clear the ball.
Kenilworth Road is bouncing whenever The Hatters attack now.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
64. Luton are getting the sense that there is a chance for them to kill this game off with another goal.
Sunderland are feeling the pressure under wave after wave of attack.
Crosses seem to be hurting the visitors as Luton dominate in the air.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
62. Another corner is swung in by Luton and is met by the head of Adebayo but on this occasion his effort is headed off the line.
Almost a third goal for Rob Edwards’ side.
Important clearance for Sunderland to keep them in this tie.
Luton 2-0 Sunderland
60. Sunderland are still looking to pass the ball around.
They have not got to the point yet where they are getting desperate.
Luton are defending well, keeping them a long way from Horvath’s goal.
Credit: PA Luton 2-0 Sunderland
58. Alese comes on for Pritchard for Sunderland.
Tony Mowbray looking to make something happen for the visitors.
Luton are not sitting back by any stretch of the imagination.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
