The much anticipated League One Playoff Final tie is now set as a second club advance through to the Wembley occasion later this month.
If this afternoon’s game between Sunderland and Lincoln was going to be anything like what was served at Bloomfield Road on Fiday night then we were going to be in for an absolute cracker.
Blackpool looked set to cruise into the League One play-off final after demolishing Oxford 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday to leave the second leg looking a more tense affair.
The U’s took an early lead through Matty Taylor to give themselves an outside chance of pulling off something incredible but the hosts then got themselves two goals in three minutes through Elliot Embleton and Kenny Dougall to stretch their aggregate lead to 5-1 at half time.
Oxford kept battling on and equalised through Rob Atkinson only for Jerry Yates to quickly get one back Blackpool’s four-goal lead. Olamide Shadipo made it 3-3 on the night. This will be an eighth playoff final for Blackpool.
Sunderland knew they could become just the fourth team in playoff history to turn around a 2-0 first leg deficit.
And boy did they give fans something to be excited amount when they found a breakthrough on the 12th minute.
๐ดโช Sunderland have one back through Ross Stewart and the Stadium of Light is rocking!
๐บ Watch on Sky Sports Football
๐ฑ Follow the play-off action here: https://t.co/kGhrVumd88
๐ฒ Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/yWQ7sB7yZ1โ Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 22, 2021
Aiden McGeady beat his man down the left and fires in a brilliant low cross that Ross Stewart bundles in from six yards out.
On the 22nd minute, Lincoln totally over play and Charlie Wyke was in behind the goalkeeper but he dallied on the ball and Lincoln scrambled it away.
That was made up for 10 minutes later when Aiden McGeady gets another cross in and this time Charlie Wyke made no mistake as he prodded home at the back post.
โกโก Sunderland have levelled things!!
McGeady โก๏ธ Wyke | Never in doubt ๐ดโช
๐บ Watch on Sky Sports Football
๐ฑ Follow the play-off action here: https://t.co/kGhrVumd88
๐ฒ Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/FqjsVQWJDDโ Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 22, 2021
Lincoln’s first real chance came on the 40th minute.
They opened Sunderland up down the home side’s right and the ball was cut back for Brennan Johnson but his low shot got blocked away.
The second half started with Lincoln on the front foot, on the 51st minute, Lincoln re-took the lead when it comes to the only score that matters. Tom Hopper was on his own in the middle of the six-yard box to head home a corner. 3-2 on aggregate at this point.
๐ฅ | Advantage, Lincoln! (2-3 agg)
Hopper – who escapes his man Wyke – heads home from six yards out! โซ
๐บ Watch on Sky Sports Football
๐ฑ Follow the play-off action here: https://t.co/kGhrVumd88
๐ฒ Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/wMm1DmLbnHโ Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 22, 2021
With 30 minutes to go the Imps were back in the driving seat, and had the chance to extend their lead with a spot kick award to them.
Conor McGrandles is tripped in the area by Josh Scowen. Jorge Grant’s penalty was then saved by Lee Burge.
A firmly struck effort from Grant, however it was at a good height for Burge, who guessed correctly and kept it out brilliantly.
โ Lifeline for Sunderland!! (2-3 agg)
Lincoln could have started dreaming of Wembley but Grant’s well-struck spot kick is brilliantly beaten clear to safety by Burge! ๐ฎ๐ฎ
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๐ฒ Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/NjzZUBKL3Uโ Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 22, 2021
On the 76th minute, Sunderland’s pressure was really starting to build. Aiden McGeady whips in a free-kick from their left that Imps goalkeeper Alex Palmer comes and collects.
Lincoln nearly wrap it up with 10 minutes remaining. Conor McGrandles got in behind the home defence and showed lovely skill to come inside but then smashed his shot just over the bar.
Sunderland then smacked the post down the other end. Aiden McGeady hit a crisp low effort that skidded off the turf and clattered against the post. Charlie Wyke goes with the rebound but it went into the sidenetting. A real nailbiting finish to the game.
Another Sunderland free-kick came in on the left giving Aiden McGeady another chance to put quality into the box. A beauty of a set piece but the flag went up for offside.
The final whistle blew and Lincoln have done it! For Sunderland it is a fourth successive season in League One.
That moment ๐ pic.twitter.com/POw4wQo96f
โ Lincoln City FC (@LincolnCity_FC) May 22, 2021
Fans reacted with the League One Playoff Final tie set as a second club advance through…
WE ARE IMPS ๐ดโช๏ธ๐ดโช๏ธ pic.twitter.com/HnndkXhbO9
โ Jack White (@Jack07773366) May 22, 2021
โ James Maples (@JamesMaples16) May 22, 2021
Congratulations lads enjoy Wembley ๐@Jake_Tonge98 @Staceywestblog @Impanalytics_ pic.twitter.com/AUmdTxSLO5
โ Ant Evans (@AntEvans88) May 22, 2021
Brilliant from the little team #Proud ๐๐๐๐๐๐ดโช๏ธ๐ดโช๏ธ๐ดโฝ๏ธโฝ๏ธโฝ๏ธโฝ๏ธโฝ๏ธ๐๐๐๐๐ #ImpsAsOne @LincolnCity_FC pic.twitter.com/JAnVob6MIt
โ Nigel Wass (@wass74) May 22, 2021
โ Danielle ๐ฆ (@neverendingsty) May 22, 2021
โ The Dave Gee (@TherealDaveGee) May 22, 2021
FUCKING COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNN pic.twitter.com/PuTgfHb388
โ Lep (@xLepebble) May 22, 2021
@KDCLegitHD: Keeping Sunderland in League One another season!!!! Class & good luck at Wembley
@conradchircop: Yes!!! Us @WBA fans are behind you lads! ๐๐ป Appleton, Palmer, and Morton
@yates_alex: So pleased for all the players after having to watch Peterborough and Hull celebrate in front of us. Well played lads
@philscraf: Wow, what a second half!!! #UTI
@Ed_Dexter1995: Fantastic. We’ll done and massive good luck in the final. Hopefully get the job done.
@AFC_Ryan__: WEVE DONE ITTTT
@MartynJohnSmit2: Congratulations from an Ipswich fan (i.e. a team you ALWAYS beat!!!) I hope you win the final, and get the promotion you RICHLY deserve!!!
@DragonHGifts: Fantastic… should have been more comfortable…. but who cares
@gulliver_rohan: Can we pay 50 million for the guy who scored just for that celebration?
@jakeflies: Letโs finish the job now ๐ช๐ป
@Jimbob2209: Wembley get ready for the red and white army. Well played boys. Letโs bring it home next week#UTMI
@Darlojames2: IMPSSSSSSS
@GegseNagle: Interesting comments at full time compared to the negativity at half time. Super changes and excellent performance. Enjoy next Sunday you Imps!!!
@EwanJM: Hard to believe that this time 5 years ago there were 87 league places between @LincolnCity_FC and @SunderlandAFC. Congrats, enjoy Wembley. #imps
@adrianclark: Finally able to breathe. What a half-time team talk. Proper Imps in the 2nd half.
@shrewsdave: Good luck in the final it will be a cracker
@JBowditch90: Get in lads. One more game!
@eastraintonfc: Congratulations lads from SAFC enjoy Wembley those who are fortunate to go! 15 out of contract for us rebuild and go again #hawaythelads
@hulsey17: What a fucking second half by the boys
JOKING AHHHAHAJA 4 SEASONS, FOUR FUCKING SEASONS IN LEAGUE 1, SO SHIT ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ pic.twitter.com/vt49mpDOOH
โ Liam ๐ฝ (@LiamDowson_55) May 22, 2021
AHAHAHAHAJ pic.twitter.com/Sinlk4KVoY
โ PompeyFan24680 (@PompeyFan24680) May 22, 2021
โ Jack ๐ธ๐ฆ (@jchaytor16) May 22, 2021
โ Jack Brydon (@JackBrydon01) May 22, 2021
Unlucky, good try. pic.twitter.com/aJHqTaSe7n
โ Angel ๐ (@AngelNUFC) May 22, 2021
Fans continued to react with the League One Playoff Final tie set as a second club advance through…
@Kevsol: Best side won. Second half was as bad as the first half was good. Played zero football in that second half. Johnson completely out-maneuvered by his opposite number as the basics eluded us. Gaffer needs to go and take 90% of the first team squad with him. Not good enough.
@antoneee_x: Spineless shower of sh*te.
@smit112: Welcome back lads. Charlton, Pompey and Sunderland forever together
@MattyCain2: Cant wait for half of them to fuck off in the summer
@NufcJC1: I love seeing Sunderland fans cry. It’s my daily medicine, my weekly motivation, and my monthly inspiration. It brings joy to my soul, and peace to my mind. Watching Sunderland bottle play offs is the reason I’m alive
@samthubron3: absolutely fucking sick. clear out now.
@lee_beckett: Well done Sunderland on securing another Netflix season
@BenKHall1: Canโt fault the effort on the day. Tie was lost earlier in the week. Season was thrown down the pan weeks ago. Off to drown my sorrows in a few bottles of Double Maxim.
@PaulKan00321136: Poznan to a 4th season in League 1 you Aldi Newcastle twats.
@Ian_Crow3: 1st leg left too much to do and despite HT hope, we didn’t come out well and its over. We were so good the 1st half, but let ourselves down and didn’t do enough that 2nd half. Congrats @LincolnCity_FC deserved it over 2 legs and good luck at Wembley enjoy it. #SAFC #HawayTheLads
Hahah inbred mongs https://t.co/emPeSKrZKS pic.twitter.com/P1pQ2nOJHf
โ JW๐ (@JW808s) May 22, 2021
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