The first team to book a place in this year’s Championship playoff final has been confirmed following a thrilling encounter.
AFC Bournemouth went into the game with a 1-0 lead thanks to Danjuma winner on Monday, knowing that the winners would play Swansea or Barnsley at Wembley on the 29th of May.
Bournemouth started with the kick-off and the Bees put them under pressure straight away and win possession.
The hosts stuck with three at the back, with Henrik Dalsgaard as a right-sided centre-back and Mads Roerslev at wing-back on the right.
After Mathias Jensen went down, before carrying on, Bournemouth keeper Asmir Begovic passed the ball straight out of play as he came under pressure from Bryan Mbeumo.
A throw in for the Bees level with the penalty spot on the right before being headed behind by Philip Billing for a corner.
The corner goes to the back post and Cameron Carter-Vickers managed to hit the ball away, with it then dropping before the centre-circle in the Bournemouth half… and there was unmarked Arnaut Danjuma free for a run in on the Bees goal. 1-0 Bournemouth (2-0 agg) on the 6th minute.
๐๐ฅ Bournemouth strike first FROM a Brentford corner!
“You don’t see that on a schoolboy pitch.” ๐๏ธ
๐บ Watch on Sky Sports Football
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Brentford continued to put the pressure on the Cherries, missing a few chances before getting a penalty on the 15th minute.
Emiliano Marcondes was inside the box and looked to clip the ball back across goal.
Then Lloyd Kelly slid in and diverted the ball behind off his arm. The Sky Sports commentator seemed to think it was a harsh call to have a penalty.
Ivan Toney stepped after and like many of his other penalties this season, scored sublimely in front of the fans to make it 1-1. (2-1 Bournemouth agg).
The Bees striker took his time before sending the ball into the right hand side of the net. That’s his 32nd goal of the season, and 10 of them have come from the spot.
๐โก Bees back in it!!
Toney deals with the pressure to stick home his pen but afters with Asmir Begovic see both men booked. This one’s heating up!! ๐ฅ๐ฅ
๐บ Watch on Sky Sports Football
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๐ฒ Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/mJolIdvTJLโ Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 22, 2021
Following the goal, Toney collected the ball and went to get it back on the centre half spot to try a get a comeback, however Bournemouth keeper Asmir Begovic tried to get the ball off him, causing it to flare up. Both were booked.
Henrik Dalsgaard stepped in to stop a Bournemouth counter-attack. Then Sergi Canos tripped Adam Smith, but the Cherries couldn’t make anything from the free-kick.
A big cheer was heard from the home crowd as Mathias Jensen threw himself at a clearance from Bournemouth right-back Adam Smith and conceded a throw-in on the right.
Bournemouth were defending well for much of the first 30 minutes, though Jonathan Woodgate would be furious with the decision to award a penalty.
Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic ended up getting booed by the home fans every time he picks up a loose ball.
Right on the half an hour mark, Bournemouth went down to 10 men!
Chris Mepham mis-controlled a ball 30 yards out and Bryan Mbeumo nipped in to get a toe on the ball.
The French forward is in on goal and Mepham stumbles and then can be seen foolishly reaching out for Mbeumo’s legs, touching them and the Brentford man goes down.
Referee Jarred Gillett had no hesitations as he reached for a red card. Mepham can’t complain.
๐ฅ A horror moment for Mepham!
He brings down Mbeumo and sees red on his Brentford return. ‘Chris Mepham, he’s one of our own’ rings out as he leaves. ๐ฌ๐ฌ
๐บ Watch on Sky Sports Football
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๐ฒ Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/QlpELck1Hsโ Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 22, 2021
The free-kick which resulted from Chris Mepham’s red card saw Ivan Toney twisted but couldn’t get a connection on a ball into the box. Some of the Bees players were claiming a penalty for obstruction, but nothing was given.
This play-off game almost had it all by the 35th minute.
Diego Rico hooked the ball clear from just in front of his own line as Henrik Dalsgaard flicked a long throw-in goalwards.
Asmir Begovic was out of his goal and claiming a free-kick, but the Cherries keeper collided with a teammate.
Just before half time, Brentford centre-back Henrik Dalsgaard went for an audacious strike from 35 yards out, though it was well off target.
Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic took his time over his goal kick with Bees head coach Thomas Frank demonstratively points to his watch on the sidelines. Shithouse and he don’t care how he looked there.
The second half started with both teams having chances, however it was Brentford who struck the net on the 51st minute to make it 2-2 on aggregate with no away goals rule in place, so it was all to play for and the Bees really were on the upper hand.
Bournemouth really needed to put some sort of pressure on their opposition instead of relying on sort luck to try and win the game.
Woodgate’s side suffered yet another scare, a mad scramble in the Bournemouth box, and the Bees thought they should have another penalty on the 54th minute.
Cameron Carter-Vickers muscled Bryan Mbeumo off the ball, Ivan Toney saw an effort smothered by Asmir Begovic and then Marcus Forss was blocked trying to get on the end of the rebound.
Mbeumo shot wide, but the whistle had already gone for a Bournemouth free-kick.
With 30 minutes reaining, Arnaut Danjuma was played through the middle for the Cherries up front, with Dominic Solanke on the left.
Brentford started to get wary of the visitors on the break, and managed to just snuff out a rare Bournemouth attack before it really got started.
The tempo died down through the second half however that didn’t stop the excitement.
Emiliano Marcondes curled a shot at goal from outside the area, but it was a fairly routine save for Asmir Begovic, as the Bournemouth keeper dived to his left to palm it behind. Begovic claims the resulting corner.
Brentford skipper Pontus Jansson picked up a yellow card for blocking off Asmir Begovic after that corner.
The Bees then got the upper hand over Bournemouth, substitute Marcus Forss turned the game around and Brentford were leading 3-2 on aggregate with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Forss got on the end of Emiliano Marcondes’ ball in from the left to prod in from six yards.
๐๐๐ FORSSSSS!!
๐จ Is that the goal that send Thomas Frank’s men to Wembley?!
๐บ Watch on Sky Sports Football
๐ฑ Follow the play-off action here: https://t.co/12gORX58yP
๐ฒ Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/lDAgnDlTCfโ Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 22, 2021
Brentford become the first team to book place in this year’s Championship playoff final, all confirmed after turning around the tie in the second leg.
Arnaut Danjuma slotted Bournemouth 2-0 ahead on aggregate.
Ivan Toney levelled it from the spot, but the Bees took charge after Cherries defender Chris Mepham was sent off.
Second-half goals from Vitaly Janelt and Marcus Forss won it for the hosts.
Fans reacted after the final whistle was blown…
@intheawayend_: Good luck at Wembley lads, definitely deserved the win against us over the two legs ๐ #BREBOU
@Calkerr10: Mathias Jensen best player on the park ๐ค๐ป
@DCFCChristopher: Donโt bottle it this season. No one wants boring Swansea to go up. Best scouting team in EFL.
@wwfcglover: UP THE FOOKING BRENTFORD
@JimmyJ1320: Well done Brentford! so glad you beat them, good luck in the final!!
@Jack_Woodsy: Despite the outcome of the game, nothing will beat Begovic absolutely bullying Toney all game. Little Ivan looked like he was about to cry ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ
@fionnteyssou1: Well deserved, hope to see you in the prem next year
@elitestanleyyy: fair play lads
@benjaminmancity: Fair fucking play lads, hope to see you in the prem next season
@NJW70: Congratulations #Bees! Deserved finalists having been so far ahead of the competition at the end of the season! Now finish the job off & really give your fans something to celebrate!
@Jen_Louise81: Wembley here we come!!! Up the bees, what a performance
@afcpaddyy: LETS GOOOO
Sergi Canos vs Bournemouth (Match Rank)
Key Passes | 2 (1st)
Touches | 62 (1st)
Accurate Crosses | 3 (1st)
Successful Dribbles | 4 (1st)
Ground Duels Won | 10 (1st)
Tackles | 4 (1st)What. A. Performance. ๐ฅ pic.twitter.com/CqolDci1O3
โ FIVEYARDS (@FIVE__YARDS) May 22, 2021
Karma is a bitch pic.twitter.com/HuA2DytmuY
โ dylanlufc๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ (@dylanlufc05) May 22, 2021
That was some crazy shit pic.twitter.com/8UuT6fHlN5
โ Jay (@keziow_jay) May 22, 2021
So that’s confirmed, Brentford become the first team to book place in this year’s Championship playoff final, who will join them, Barnsley or Swansea? We find out on Saturday evening.

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