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An astonishing League One playoff semi final ends with a 5-5 aggregate, an epic Sheffield Wednesday comeback and a penalty shootout.
Sheffield Wednesday went into this game knowing they had it all to do.
The Owls trailed Peterborough United 4-0 after last week’s first leg down in Cambridgeshire. If they are to reach the showpiece final at Wembley later this month Darren Moore’s side will have to create history.
No side has ever come from three goals down after the first leg, never mind four.
Speaking in the build-up to tonight’s contest Moore has spoken of his and the players’ desire to pull off the impossible under the lights at Hillsborough.
“What’s happened has happened. We’ve got together and continued to work, as we have done all season,” said Moore. “We’ve now got a game in front of a packed Hillsborough and we just want to go and win it.”
So how did the second leg play out? Quite possibly one of the craziest in EFL history.
GOAL! Sheff Wed 1-0 Peterborough (Smith, 9 pen)
As cool as you like from Michael Smith, who sends Will Norris diving to the left and rolls the penalty into the bottom right in front of the Kop.
Is this the first step on the way to one of football’s most remarkable comebacks?
GOAL! Sheff Wed 2-0 Peterborough (Gregory, 25)
Wednesday have a second back!
Peterborough goalkeeper Will Norris comes to punch a cross away, but only manages to push it straight into the path of Callum Paterson.
Paterson shapes up to shoot, then takes the ball a little closer and strikes, with Lee Gregory on hand to apply the finish that takes the ball over the line!
GOAL! Sheff Wed 3-0 Peterborough (James, 71)
Can you believe it?! Wednesday have another one back with just under 20 minutes to play. One goal forces extra-time here!
Liam Palmer drives forward with the ball and pokes it through; Frankie Kent can’t get to grips with it, but Reece James can, arriving at the back post to slot through Will Norris’ legs!
GOAL! Sheff Wed 4-0 Peterborough (Palmer, 90+8)
I DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT I AM SEEING.
Sheffield Wednesday were 4-0 down after the first leg, but they have forced extra-time with a close-range finish from Liam Palmer in the eighth minute of injury time.
This game is not over. How do Peterborough respond?!
GOAL! Sheff Wed 4-1 Peterborough (Gregory OG, 105)
Would you believe it – Peterborough have edged ahead in this remarkable tie once again!
Michael Smith gives away a cheap free-kick, and the resulting free-kick hits the back of Lee Gregory and crosses the line!
GOAL! Sheff Wed 5-1 Peterborough (Paterson, 112)
THIS IS LUDICROUS! ANOTHER LATE TWIST!
Callum Paterson takes one shot after a cross from the left, which is blocked. He’s fortunate to get a second bite of the cherry and this time he toe-pokes it home!
PENALTY SHOOTOUT
Dan Butler’s effort hit the crossbar and went over and every other penalty was scored in a shootout befitting the 120 minutes which had preceded it.
Prior to this tie no team had ever overcome a two-goal first-leg deficit in the EFL play-offs to reach the final.
Wednesday, who had become the first team in EFL history to win 96 points and not go up automatically, will now face either Bolton or Barnsley at Wembley on Monday, 29 May.
The start Sheffield Wednesday NEEDED! 🔵⚡ pic.twitter.com/QReDqn9KHt
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 18, 2023
“IS THAT PART TWO OF MISSION IMPOSSIBLE?!” 👀 pic.twitter.com/WYb8ZzxtqQ
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 18, 2023
“THIS COULD BE HAPPENING!!!”
Sheffield Wednesday have ANOTHER, could this be one of football’s greatest comebacks? WOW! 😱 pic.twitter.com/QssLrJyFOf
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 18, 2023
THEY’VE DONE IT!!!!
IN THE 98TH MINUTE SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY COMPLETE THE COMEBACK 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hucn8yQLjR
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 18, 2023
Peterborough HIT BACK in extra time! 💥 pic.twitter.com/7hWN1hIPSQ
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 18, 2023
“IT’S A PLAY-OFF MIRACLE!” ✨
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY WITH ONE OF THE GREATEST COMEBACKS IN HISTORY 😱 pic.twitter.com/m2AAI274SP
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 18, 2023
Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan told Sky Sports:
“Everybody wrote us off. Everybody told us we couldn’t do it but it’s unbelievable.
“We’ve watched comebacks all week. It was all about believing. When we have the fans behind us, anything is possible.
“It’s the best game I’ve ever played in. I’m so happy because all these lads deserve it. I give everything for this club to get us promoted. Everybody wrote us off but we showed we’re made of strong stuff. We’re only halfway there.
“Those who were booing us last week saying we’re not fit to wear the shirt, have a look at this.
“What he [Darren Moore] has done is unbelievable, to turn around the mindset of the players. I’m so proud of him how he’s handled this week after the racism he’s experienced.
“That one’s for him.”
Francis Green (Ex-Peterborough forward on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire): “Peterborough made two substitutions at half-time, bringing on two centre-backs. I understood why Darren Ferguson did it, because Wednesday were bombarding the wide channels.
“As a player, I used to love psychologically when the other team made negative substitutions. It showed me the opposition were scared of my team.
“They were still in control of the tie at half-time, but they had no outlet. They had no way of attacking Wednesday.
“You bring criticism on you when you do that.”
Brian Laws (Ex-Sheff Wed manager on BBC Radio Sheffield): “I’m speechless. Remarkable. I’ve never seen anything like this.
“What an incredible evening I have seen unfold. My thoughts immediately go to Darren Moore, who has gone through the mill with criticism after the first game.
“It was so nasty and vicious, but his professionalism, his calm and cool, has allowed his team to do something so remarkable.
“My heart goes out to him. I want to congratulate him.”
