Josh Windass became the hero of the day as he scored the winning goal in the most thrilling fashion during the League One play-off final. Sheffield Wednesday emerged victorious against 10-man Barnsley in a match filled with drama and tension.
With the prospect of a penalty shootout looming, Windass headed the ball beyond goalkeeper Harry Isted in the dying moments of extra time. The goal secured Sheffield Wednesday’s promotion to the Championship, leaving their South Yorkshire rivals heartbroken.
The defeat was especially cruel for Barnsley, who had been playing with a numerical disadvantage since the 49th minute when Adam Phillips received a straight red card for a poor challenge on Lee Gregory.
During an action-packed period of extra time, Isted made brilliant saves from Michael Smith and Barry Bannan, while Luca Connell missed a golden opportunity for Barnsley. However, it was Sheffield Wednesday who delivered the final twist with their last-minute heroics.
The manner of Sheffield Wednesday’s promotion victory was reminiscent of their journey to the Wembley showdown. Under the guidance of manager Darren Moore, the team had initially appeared destined for automatic promotion with a record-breaking 23-game unbeaten run. However, a 4-2 defeat to Barnsley in March shattered their hopes, and they ultimately finished third in the league with an impressive 96 points.
In the first leg of their play-off semi-final against Peterborough, Sheffield Wednesday suffered a demoralizing 4-0 defeat, leaving their promotion aspirations hanging by a thread. However, buoyed by their passionate Hillsborough crowd, they staged a remarkable comeback in the second leg. They equalized the tie on aggregate with the final kick of the 90 minutes and eventually secured victory in a penalty shootout. It marked the first time a team had overcome a deficit of more than 2-0 in a play-off semi-final.
Throughout the League One final, it seemed that Sheffield Wednesday’s chances of success were slipping away. Yet, in the dying seconds of the game, Windass dove to powerfully head Gregory’s cross into the net, igniting pandemonium among the 44,000 Wednesday fans and breaking Barnsley’s collective heart.
The match initially appeared uneventful after a bright start in the first half that quickly fizzled out. However, the game sprang to life after halftime. Gregory seemed fortunate to escape punishment for a challenge on Liam Kitching in his own penalty area, which underwent VAR review but ultimately upheld the referee’s decision. Shortly afterward, Gregory and Phillips engaged in a slide tackle 40 yards from Wednesday’s goal, resulting in Phillips receiving a red card following a momentary pause from the referee. VAR confirmed the decision, leaving Barnsley to play with 10 men for almost 80 minutes.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Barnsley, led by their captain Mads Andersen, displayed resilience and pressed forward. Kitching deflected a Nicky Cadden volley onto the crossbar, and Cameron Dawson made several smart saves to deny Cadden and James Norwood. Barnsley’s defense held firm against Wednesday’s long balls.
As the match entered extra time, both teams could have been forgiven for dropping off due to exhaustion from a long season and the hot weather. However, the additional 30 minutes provided unimaginable drama. Isted, on loan from Luton, made miraculous saves from close range, denying Smith and Bannan. Kitching surged forward from center-back and set up Luke Thomas, who squared the ball to Connell at the back post. With the goal gaping just six yards away, Connell shockingly skewed his shot wide, leaving Barnsley fans in disbelief.
Sheffield Wednesday substitute Will Vaulks thought he had scored the winning goal in the second half of extra time, only for it to be disallowed for offside. Andersen made a crucial block from Windass’s close-range effort, seemingly bringing the match to a conclusion. However, Windass, following in the footsteps of his father Dean, who scored the winning goal for Hull City in the Championship play-off final in 2008, had other plans.
Despite the heartbreaking defeat, Barnsley manager Michael Duff reflected on a successful season for his team. After taking over the club following their relegation from the Championship in the previous season, Duff guided Barnsley to 26 league wins, securing fourth place in League One. His young and well-organized side consistently challenged for promotion throughout the campaign.
Duff expressed his disappointment with the referee’s decisions, believing his team should have been awarded a penalty for the clash between Gregory and Kitching. He noted the absence of penalties throughout the season and expressed frustration with not receiving one in the final game, especially when VAR was available.
Darren Moore, the Sheffield Wednesday manager, expressed his delight for everyone associated with the club and praised his team’s unity and resilience. Moore emphasized the importance of continuing to progress as a club, rather than standing still after achieving promotion to the Championship.
