Across the EFL, the two-legged semi-final matches have played out: joyous celebration for clubs advancing to the finals at Wembley, agony for others sent home, season ended. In the Championship, Sheffield United meets Sunderland in "The Sport's Richest Match" — promotion to the Premier League valued at hundreds of millions of pounds.
In Leauge One, a London Derby, with Leyton-Orient facing cross-town rival Charlton Athletic; in League Two, Walsall and AFC Wilmbledon battle for promotion.
The Championship final
#3 Sheffield United vs #4 Sunderland
Sheffield's road to Wembley: A super season for The Blades, looking to return to the Premier League after being relegated last year. The club from South Yorkshire narrowly missed automatic promotion, but earned the #1 playoff seed with 90 points from 28 wins, 8 draws and 10 losses. They finished 14 points ahead of Sunderland and 22 ahead of 6th seed Bristol City, who they faced in the first round of the playoffs.
Thursday May 8: Bristol City 0 - Sheffield United 3
Sheffield United took on the Robins at Ashton Gate and rode away with a crushing 3-0 victory; Callum O’Hare’s deft flick late in the match plunged a dagger into the heart of Bristol City’s players and fans.
Monday May 12: Sheffield United 3 - Bristol City 0
The Robins couldn’t find a response when the teams met at Bramall Lane for the second leg. Sheffield United scored early and often, with Kieffer Moore, Gustavo Hamer and O’Hare tallying on their rocking way to the final.
Sunderland's road to Wembley: Sunderland captured the second seed with a record of 21 wins, 13 draws and 12 losses, but stumbled into the playoffs, losing their last five matches of the regular season. The Black Cats, seeking a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2016-17, made their luck late.
Friday May 9: Coventry City 1 - Sunderland 2
Sunderland opened the scoring at Coventry City when Wilson Isidor 68th minute score put The Black Cats ahead, but Coventry stalwart Jack Rudoni blasted home the equalizer moments later on the following kickoff. The match remained deadlocked until a late game misplaced backpass fell to Sunderland striker Eliezer Mayenda, who outmaneuvered the keeper for the winner with two minutes left.
Tuesday May 13: Sunderland 1 - Coventry 1 - Extra Time
The Sky Blues and manager Frank Lampard had been writing the Cinderella story of the season, and the dream flared bright in the reverse fixture when Coventry wingman Ephron Mason-Clark tucked home a cross in 76th minute, leveling the aggregate score. The battle continued through extra-time, the season seemingly destined for penalties; trepidation settled like a blanket over the Stadium of Light, the fear finding even Sunderland's most faithful.
Then The Black Cats earned a last ditch corner, and as the very last seconds ticked away, Dan Ballard rose to meet the ball, striking a header that plonked the underside of the crossbar before bouncing in. The crowd- 46,520- went mad; Sunderland had booked their trip to Wembley.
A great scene after the match, as fans and players at the Stadium of Light serenaded each other the Elvis Classic, “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You...”
FINAL PREVIEW: When Sheffield United and Sunderland met during the regular season, Sunderland won the first leg away, 1-0. Both teams went down a player before the half — Sunderland’s Chris Mepham was shown red in the 40th minute, while Sheffield United’s Harry Souttar was ejected 5 minutes later for his second yellow. Tom Davies, a late Sunderland substitute, scored the lone goal, crashing into the box and sliding home the winner with 7 minutes left in regulation.
In the reverse match, Sunderland defeated Sheffield United 2-1 on New Years Day at the Stadium of Light.
Going into Saturday's final, Sheffield United may possess desire and momentum, but Sunderland, buoyed by their victory over the Sky Blues, pursues the same dream that knows no bounds.
League One Final - Sunday May 25
#4 Charlton Athletic vs #6 Leyton Orient - A London Derby
Charlton's Road to Wembley- Charlton Athletic takes out Wycombe Wanderers 0-0, 1-0
Wycombe led the league in October and November, but faded toward the end of the campaign, allowing Charlton to overtake them in the season's final weekend; the Addicks, with the #2 playoff seed, would have critical home field advantage for the second leg. Neither team scored in the first match at Adams Park in Buckinghamshire, both sides seemingly as wary about conceding as chancing victory.
The winner-goes-to-Wembley match was held Thursday in The Valley, Charlton’s London home since 1919.
The second match began the same as the first, both teams on their back foot, unable to produce the offensive spark necessary for a deciding goal. Missed opportunities and missed headers left the match spiraling toward extra time — then, with 10 minutes left, thunder from Charlton.
A long pass soared into the box, and though the defenders stopped the initial flurry, the fumble fell to striker Matty Godden, who netted his 19th goal of the season.
The Valley rocked and roared, including one incredibly-rotund fan who joyously jiggled his bared belly for the world to see. Security staff lined the field, to no avail — as the clock ticked off Wycombe's season gone astray, jubilation in south-east London, the Addick Army storming the pitch to celebrate their trip to the finals.
Leyton-Orient's Road to Wembley: The O's win lots late, take out top seed Stockport County in second-leg penalty kicks
Leyton Orient earned the #6 playoff seed by winning their last six games of the season; star striker Charlie Kelman won the League’s Golden Boot with twenty-one goals: (n.b.- though born in England, he’s played internationally for the USA under-18 and under-20 squads.)
In the semi opener, at Brisbane Road in London, Kelman nipped in the first goal despite being quite offsides- regret to say, County fans, there’s no VAR in the EFL. A righteously outraged Stockport leveled in the 60th minute, then went ahead 5 minutes later, only to give away a late penalty which Kelman put away for the 2-2 finish.
Four days later, the teams met at Edgeley Park in Greater Manchester. Lightning early: Ollie O’Neill scored for Leyton in the 2nd minute, a dramatic strike that deflated their opponents and the home crowd. On their heels for the rest of the game, Stockport finally answered in the 75th minute. Hope revived, every moment thereafter-every pass, every run and foul became a nervy affair.
Extra time passed and suddenly the season came down to penalties- and the home side fell apart. Leyton keeper Josh Keeley saved Stockport’s second attempt, and after their next shooter hit the post, Ethan Galbraith fired home Leyton's fourth to send The O’s to the Wembley final.
LEAUGE ONE FINAL PREVIEW: A London Derby at the Home of Football? Yes please! Charlton defeated Leyton both home and away during the regular season; Sunday's winner at Wembley will join Birmingham City and Wrexham in the Championship.
Here today, gone tomorrow- relegated from Leauge One to League Two: Crawley Town, Bristol Rovers, Cambridge United, and Shrewsbury Town.
League Two Final - The Wobbles face Walsall in Wembley- Monday May 26
Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, Bradford City have been promoted to League One; who would be the fourth?
Walsall, from the West Midlands, just missed an automatic promotion spot when Bradford City scored against Fleetwood Town on their final kick of the season. The Saddlers, left with the top playoff seed, faced Chesterfield, the Derbyshire side seeking back-to-back promotions after winning the National League last year. Chesterfield finished the season strong, earning 28 points from their last 12 matches, but in the playoffs hit the wall — Walsall's goalie, Tommy Simkin. The keeper, on loan from Stoke City, pulled a shut out away while his side scored twice; in the reverse match at Bescot Stadium, a late goal kept him from a second clean sheet, but two more goals from his offense were enough to send Walsall off to Wembley in style.
AFC Wimbledon takes down Notts County at Meadow Lane and Plough Lane
In their home fixture at Meadow Lane, Notts County couldn't find the net, losing 1-0; in the reverse fixture, the Magpies traveled to London’s Plough Lane, where The Dons-aka The Wobbles — took them again, 1-0.
The Wobbles now face Walsall in Wembley. When the teams met in March in the Midlands, Walsall scored in the 87th minute for a dramatic 1-1 draw; in November the Magpies and the Dons clashed in London, with home side Wimbledon falling, 1-0.