Luton beat Coventry on penalties in Championship play-off final | OneFootball

Luton Town will play in the Premier League for the first time in their history next season after overcoming Coventry City on penalties in Saturday’s play-off final at Wembley.

After a 1-1 draw in normal time, Fankaty Dabo’s missed penalty in the shoot-out sealed the victory for Luton.

The Hatters will now join Burnley and Sheffield United in the Premier League next season, returning to England’s top flight for the first time since their relegation in 1991/92.

Scorers: Hamer 66′; Clark 23′

Luton thought they’d taken a very early lead when Tom Lockyer had the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside against Gabriel Osho.

Lockyer’s day then ended worryingly when he had to be stretchered off after collapsing unchallenged in the 12th minute, with Reece Burke coming on to replace him.

And Luton then took the lead in emphatic fashion, with Jordan Clark lashing in at the near post for 1-0.

It was almost 2-0 in the 29th minute, when the ball fell kindly for Luton striker Elijah Adebayo but to Coventry’s relief, his effort dropped just wide of the post.

Luton had the ball in the net again in the 41st minute, but again it was ruled out, this time for handball against Adebayo after Callum Doyle’s goal-line clearance ricocheted off the striker and in.

Coventry pushed for an equaliser after the break and in the 66th minute they got it, when Viktor Gyökeres pulled it back to the edge of the box and Gustavo Hamer side-footed superbly into the corner.

Despite eight minutes added on, the two sides couldn’t be separated in normal time, and the final went to extra-time.

And in the 117th minute, Luton thought they’d gone back in front when Joe Taylor nicked the ball off Jonathan Panzo before running through to score.

But to Coventry’s relief, the goal was disallowed for a handball against Taylor.

And with nothing to separate the two sides after 120 minutes, a penalty shoot-out beckoned.

Carlton Morris stepped up first for Luton and scored, before Matt Godden also scored for Coventry.

Taylor then scored for Luton, as did Gyökeres for Coventry.

Marvelous Nakamba was next up for Luton and he also scored, only for Ben Sheaf to equalise for Coventry.

After scoring in normal time, Clark then also netted for Luton in the shoot-out, but his spot-kick was cancelled out by Josh Eccles.

Luke Berry then scored for Luton, before Coventry captain Liam Kelly made it 5-5 to trigger sudden death.

Luton skipper Dan Potts was up next and he found the bottom corner, before Dabo missed for Coventry to send Luton to the Premier League.