2023 EFL Championship play-off final

Last updated

2023 EFL Championship play-off Final
Wembley-Stadion 2013.jpg
Wembley Stadium in London hosted the final.
Coventry City Luton Town
11
After extra time
Luton Town won 6–5 on penalties
Date27 May 2023 (2023-05-27)
Venue Wembley Stadium, London
Referee Michael Oliver
Attendance85,711
← 2022
2024 →

The 2023 EFL Championship play-off final was an association football match which was played on 27 May 2023 at Wembley Stadium, London, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, to the Premier League. The top two teams of the 2022–23 EFL Championship, Burnley and Sheffield United, gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the clubs placed from third to sixth in the table took part in 2023 English Football League play-offs. [1] Success in the final has been estimated, by the accountancy company Deloitte, to be worth £170 million to the winning team over the next three seasons. [2]

Contents

The final was contested by Luton Town and Coventry City, who finished third and fifth respectively in the league season. The match was notable for the rapid ascent of both sides through the English league system, as both teams had played in League Two in the 2017–18 season.

With the score 1–1 after extra time with goals from Jordan Clark and Gustavo Hamer, Luton won the final on penalties to secure a return to the top flight after 31 seasons, and for the first time in the Premier League era, having been relegated the season prior to its formation. [3]

Route to the final

EFL Championship final table, leading positions
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1 Burnley (C, P)46291438735+52101
2 Sheffield United (P)46287117339+3491
3 Luton Town (O, P)46211785739+1880
4 Middlesbrough 46229158456+2875
5 Coventry City 461816125846+1270
6 Sunderland 461815136855+1369
Source: EFL Official Website
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Luton Town finished the regular 2022–23 season in third place in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league system, two places and 10 points ahead of Coventry City. They both therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the Premier League and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third and final promoted team. [4] Luton finished 11 points behind Sheffield United (who were promoted in second place) and 21 points behind league winners Burnley. [5]

In their play-off semi-final, Luton faced sixth-placed Sunderland with the first match of the two-legged tie taking place at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on 13 May 2023. Luton took the lead in the 11th minute after Sunderland had failed to clear a corner and Elijah Adebayo scored from a rebounded shot after Alfie Doughty’s close range strike was saved by Anthony Patterson. Sunderland gained possession of midfield and Luton’s Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu fouled Patrick Roberts resulting in a free-kick. Alex Pritchard touched the ball to Amad who curled the ball into the top corner of the net beyond Luton goalkeeper, Ethan Horvath who did not move, making the score 1–1 in the 39th minute. No further goals were scored in the first-half. Sunderland maintained their momentum in the second-half and in the 63rd minute, Trai Hume scored with a header from a Jack Clarke cross. Luton rallied towards the end of the second-half but were unable to score an equaliser and the game finished 2–1. [6] The second leg took place at Luton’s Kenilworth Road on 16 May with both clubs fielding the same starting elevens. Luton scored in the 10th minute when Tom Lockyer won the ball from a corner and the ball fell to Gabriel Osho who reacted quickly to score. Luton added a second in the 43rd minute when an inswinging cross by Alfie Doughty was met by Lockyer to head home and make the score 2–0. Luton’s tactic of putting high balls into the Sunderland penalty box continued to cause the Sunderland defence problems while Sunderland rarely troubled the Luton defence. No further goals were scored and Luton won 3–2 on aggregate winning a place in the final and a chance to return to the top tier of English football for the first time since 1992. [7]

In the other play-off semi-final, on 14 May, Coventry City played Middlesbrough in the first leg at the CBS Arena in Coventry. In a match described as both "poor and tense", Coventry failed to have a single shot on target. Middlesbrough managed only two shots on target but also failed to score as the match ended 0–0. [8] The second leg was played at the Riverside Stadium on 17 May. The only goal of the game came in the 57th minute when Middlesbrough lost possession on the half-way line. Coventry’s Viktor Gyökeres played the ball into space past Middlesbrough goalkeeper, Zack Steffen. Gustavo Hamer took control of the ball and hit a precise shot into the roof of the net. Middlesbrough pressed for an equaliser and they had the ball in the net with two minutes to go only for it to be ruled out for offside. Eight minutes of added time were played but Middlesbrough could not find a way past the Coventry defence and the game ended 1–0 to Coventry, the same aggregate scoreline which sent them through to the Wembley final against Luton Town. [9]

Coventry manager, Mark Robins described the final as "one for the romantics" due to the rise of both teams from the lower tiers of English football, both clubs having been in League Two as recently as the 2017–18 season. [10]

Match

Background

Summary

Details

Coventry City 1–1 (a.e.t.) Luton Town
  • Hamer Soccerball shade.svg66'
 Report
Penalties
5–6
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 85,711
Referee: Michael Oliver
Kit left arm coventry2223h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body coventry2223h.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm coventry2223h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts coventry2223h.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks coventry2223h.png
Kit socks long.svg
Coventry City
Kit left arm luton2223h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body luton2223h.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm luton2223h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts luton2223h.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks luton2223hl.png
Kit socks long.svg
Luton Town
GK13 Flag of England.svg Ben Wilson
CB16 Flag of Ireland.svg Luke McNally Yellow card.svg 46'
CB5 Flag of England.svg Kyle McFadzean
CB3 Flag of England.svg Callum Doyle Sub off.svg 115'
RM7 Flag of England.svg Brooke Norton-Cuffy Sub off.svg 90'
CM6 Flag of Scotland.svg Liam Kelly (c)
CM14 Flag of England.svg Ben Sheaf
CM38 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Gustavo Hamer Soccerball shade.svg66'Sub off.svg 80'
LM27 Flag of England.svg Jake Bidwell
AM8 Flag of England.svg Jamie Allen Sub off.svg 45'
CF17 Flag of Sweden.svg Viktor Gyökeres
Substitutes:
GK1 Flag of England.svg Simon Moore
DF2 Flag of England.svg Jonathan Panzo Sub on.svg 115'
DF11 Flag of England.svg Josh Wilson-Esbrand
DF23 Flag of England.svg Fankaty Dabo Sub on.svg 90'
FW24 Flag of England.svg Matt Godden Sub on.svg 45'
MF28 Flag of England.svg Josh Eccles Sub on.svg 102'
MF45 Flag of Jamaica.svg Kasey Palmer Sub on.svg 80'Sub off.svg 102'
Head Coach:
Flag of England.svg Mark Robins
GK34 Flag of the United States.svg Ethan Horvath
CB29 Flag of Jamaica.svg Amari'i Bell
CB4 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Tom Lockyer (c)Sub off.svg 12'
CB32 Flag of England.svg Gabriel Osho Sub off.svg 112'
RM2 Flag of England.svg Cody Drameh
CM17 Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu Sub off.svg 98'
CM13 Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Marvelous Nakamba
CM18 Flag of England.svg Jordan Clark Soccerball shade.svg23'Yellow card.svg 99'
LM45 Flag of England.svg Alfie Doughty Sub off.svg 84'
CF9 Flag of England.svg Carlton Morris
CF11 Flag of England.svg Elijah Adebayo Sub off.svg 105'
Substitutes:
GK1 Flag of England.svg James Shea
DF3 Flag of England.svg Dan Potts Sub on.svg 112'
DF16 Flag of England.svg Reece Burke Sub on.svg 12'
MF8 Flag of England.svg Luke Berry Sub on.svg 98'
MF22 Flag of Scotland.svg Allan Campbell
MF23 Flag of Nigeria.svg Fred Onyedinma Sub on.svg 84'
FW25 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Joe Taylor Sub on.svg 105'
Head Coach:
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Rob Edwards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Mowbray</span> Footballer and football manager

Anthony Mark Mowbray is an English football manager and former footballer who is currently manager of EFL Championship club Birmingham City. Mowbray played for Middlesbrough, Celtic and Ipswich Town as a defender.

The English Football League play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by four association football teams finishing immediately below the automatic promotion places in the second, third and fourth tiers of the English football league system, namely the EFL Championship, EFL League One and EFL League Two. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, each conducted as a two-legged tie with games played at each side's home ground. The aggregate winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium, where the victorious side is promoted to the league above, and the runners-up remain in the same division. In the event of drawn ties or finals, extra time followed by a penalty shoot-out are employed as necessary.

The English Football League Championship play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the association football teams finishing from third to sixth in the EFL Championship table and are part of the English Football League play-offs. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, where the team finishing third plays the team finishing sixth, and the team finishing fourth plays the team finishing fifth, each conducted as a two-legged tie. The winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium. The Championship play-off final is considered the most valuable single football match in the world as a result of the increase in revenue to the winning club from sponsorship and media agreements.

The EFL League One play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the association football teams finishing from third to sixth in the EFL League One table and are part of the English Football League play-offs. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, where the team finishing third plays the team finishing sixth, and the team finishing fourth plays the team finishing fifth, each conducted as a two-legged tie. The winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium.

The EFL League Two play-offs are a series of play-off matches contested by the association football teams finishing from fourth to seventh in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. They are part of the annual English Football League play-offs. As of 2022, the play-offs comprise two semi-finals, where the team finishing fourth plays the team finishing seventh, and the team finishing fifth plays the team finishing sixth, each conducted as a two-legged tie. The winners of the semi-finals progress to the final which is contested at Wembley Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Gibson</span> English association football player

Benjamin James Gibson is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship club Norwich City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Football League Championship play-off final</span> Football match

The 2015 Football League Championship play-off Final was an association football match which was played on 25 May 2015 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Middlesbrough and Norwich City. The match was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football, to the Premier League. The top two teams of the 2014–15 Football League Championship season gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table partook in play-off semi-finals; Norwich ended the season in third place while Middlesbrough finished fourth. The winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2015–16 season in the Premier League. Winning the game was estimated to be worth around £120 million to the successful team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Fletcher</span> English professional footballer

Ashley Michael Fletcher is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Sheffield Wednesday on loan from Watford.

The 2016–17 EFL Cup was the 57th season of the EFL Cup, formerly known as the Football League Cup, featuring all 92 clubs from the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL). The cup did not have a sponsor following the withdrawal of sponsorship from Capital One after four years as the Capital One Cup, but was renamed the EFL Cup after the Football League was rebranded as the English Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 EFL Trophy final</span> English football match between Coventry City and Oxford United

The 2017 EFL Trophy Final was an association football match that was played on 2 April 2017 at Wembley Stadium, London. It was played between League One teams Coventry City and Oxford United. The match decided the winners of the 2016–17 EFL Trophy, a 64-team knockout tournament comprising clubs from League One and League Two of the English Football League (EFL), as well as 16 Category One academy sides representing Premier League and Championship clubs. It was Coventry's first appearance in the final and the second for Oxford, who were beaten by Barnsley in the previous season's match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 EFL League Two play-off final</span> Football match

The 2017 EFL League Two play-off Final was an association football match played on 28 May 2017 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Blackpool and Exeter City. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from EFL League Two, English football's fourth tier, to EFL League One. The top three teams of the 2016–17 EFL League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2017–18 season in League One. Blackpool finished in seventh place while Exeter ended the season in fifth position. Luton Town and Carlisle United were the losing semi-finalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 EFL Cup</span> Football tournament season

The 2017–18 EFL Cup was the 58th season of the EFL Cup. The competition was open to all 92 clubs participating in the Premier League and the English Football League. It was known as the Carabao Cup due to the start of a sponsorship deal with Carabao Energy Drinks after the tournament was unsponsored the previous year. The final took place at Wembley Stadium in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 EFL Championship play-off final</span> Football match

The 2018 EFL Championship play-off Final was an association football match which was played on 26 May 2018 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Aston Villa and Fulham. The match was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, to the Premier League. The top two teams of the 2017–18 EFL Championship season gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table partook in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2018–19 season in the Premier League; Fulham ended the season in third place while Aston Villa finished fourth. Winning the game was estimated to be worth £160 million to the successful team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 EFL League Two play-off final</span> UK football match that determined who moved up to "League One" of English football

The 2018 EFL League Two play-off Final was an association football match played on 28 May 2018 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Coventry City and Exeter City. The match determined the fourth and final team to gain promotion from EFL League Two, English football's fourth tier, to EFL League One. The top three teams of the 2017–18 EFL League Two season gained automatic promotion to League One, while the teams placed from fourth to seventh in the table took part in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2018–19 season in League One. Exeter finished in fourth place while Coventry ended the season in sixth position. Lincoln City and Notts County were the losing semi-finalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 EFL League One play-off final</span> Association football match between Charlton Athletic and Sunderland in 2019

The 2019 EFL League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 26 May 2019 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Charlton Athletic and Sunderland to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from EFL League One to the EFL Championship. The top two teams of the 2018–19 EFL League One season gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table partook in play-off semi-finals; the winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2019–20 season in the Championship.

The 2019–20 EFL Cup was the 60th season of the EFL Cup. Also known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons, the competition was open to all clubs participating in the Premier League and the English Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 EFL League One play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2021 EFL League One play-off final was an association football match which was played on 30 May 2021 at Wembley Stadium, London, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from EFL League One, the third tier of English football, to the EFL Championship. The top two teams of 2020–21 EFL League One, Hull City and Peterborough United, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the clubs placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in the 2021 English Football League play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2021–22 season in the Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 EFL Championship play-off final</span> English association football match

The 2022 EFL Championship play-off final was an association football match which was played on 29 May 2022 at Wembley Stadium, London, England, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, to the Premier League. The top two teams of the 2021–22 EFL Championship, Fulham and Bournemouth, gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the clubs placed from third to sixth in the table took part in the 2022 English Football League play-offs. Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest competed for the final place in the 2022–23 Premier League season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 EFL League One play-off final</span> Association football match

The 2022 EFL League One play-off Final was an association football match between Wycombe Wanderers and Sunderland on 21 May 2022 at Wembley Stadium, London. It was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from EFL League One, the third tier of English football, to the EFL Championship. The top two teams of 2021–22 EFL League One, Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United, gained automatic promotion to the Championship, while the clubs placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in the 2022 English Football League play-offs. The winners of the play-off semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2022–23 season in the Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 English Football League play-offs</span> Football league season

The English Football League play-offs for the 2022–23 season were held in May 2023 with all finals being staged at Wembley Stadium in Wembley.

References

  1. ↑ "EFL Key Dates". English Football League . Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "The 'hard luck story' Championship play-off final". BBC Sport. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Luton Town win shootout to reach Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Sky Bet EFL Play-Off dates confirmed". EFL Official Website. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Sky Bet Championship Table". EFL Official Website. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Sunderland take first-leg lead with win over Luton". BBC Sport. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Luton overpower Sunderland to reach play-off final". BBC Sport. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Coventry City held by Middlesbrough in first leg". BBC Sport. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "Coventry beat Middlesbrough to make play-off final". BBC Sport. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "Coventry-Luton final 'one for romantics' - Robins". BBC Sport. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.