League One - Millwall break Leeds hearts

Eurosport - Fri, 15 May 09:56:00 2009

Millwall reached the League One play-off final after a 1-1 draw against Leeds gave them a 2-1 aggregate win at a sold-out Elland Road.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 League One Millwall Leeds-Millwall Millwall keeper David Forde celebrates their play-off win against Leeds, having saved a penalty in the second half - 0

Argentine striker Luciano Becchio put the hosts ahead on 52 minutes but French midfielder Nadjim Abdou equalised on 73 to send the Lions into their first play-off final, where they will face either MK Dons or Scunthorpe at Wembley Stadium on May 24.

Millwall goalkeeper David Forde (pictured) saved a Jermaine Beckford penalty in a match the Whites dominated, but Kenny Jackett's side were resilient - and fortunate - enough to hold out for a famous overall victory.

Leeds made all the running from start to finish but they had to wait until the 24th minute for the first real chance, when Beckford's low drive was saved well by Forde.

Despite having all the possession and effectively camping in Millwall's half, it took until the second half for them to truly threaten again.

Substitute Andy Robinson - on for the injured Neil Kilkenny - sent a wicked free-kick that deflected off Alan Dunnne and went wide for a corner.

The set-piece that followed wreaked havoc in the Lions box, and eagled-eyed referee Mark Halsey - who had an excellent game - spotted Andrew Frampton's shirt-pull on Sam Sodje and awarded a spot-kick to the hosts.

Beckford is the top scorer in the division but he was left wanting under pressure, sending a weak spot-kick just to Forde's right that was easily saved by the Irishman.

Simon Grayson's men got their goal soon afterwards though, when a sweeping counter-attack down the left saw Robinson feed full-back Ben Parker on the overlap and Becchio tap home the low, drilled cross to send the home fans wild.

Forde was then hit by a coin thrown from the Leeds end - which will no doubt result in a police charge - while Millwall's American defender Zak Whitbread needed lengthy treatment after a nasty-looking fall left him unconscious.

Both were able to continue and to good effect, with Forde steady in goal and Whitbread making several timely interventions.

Against the run of play, Millwall got an equaliser when the impressive Abdou tapped in from close range after great wing-play by David Martin forced a goalmouth scramble and set up a frantic closing 25 minutes, that included eight minutes stoppage time.

Bradley Johnson, on as a sub for Leeds, sent one shot fizzing wide, while Scottish midfielder Robert Snodgrass sent a rising drive just over the top-left corner.

Lewis Grabban had a great chance to make it 2-1 to Millwall when, deep into injury-time, he was sent clean through by Gary Alexander's overhead pass, but he fired over.

Despite Leeds throwing the kitchen sink and keeper Casper Ankergren up front, they were unable to force the goal that would have taken it to extra-time and the South London side were left ecstatic in the knowledge that they are just one game away from the Championship.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. James is a turd, FACT

    From NewarkYMCA, on Tue 19 May 5:51PM

  2. No team has a divine right to be anywhere else other­ than where they are, Leeds are good enough for League­ 1, if they get better they might get promoted again,­ but unless they take that big chip off of their­ shoulder, it is not going to happen.
    Get rid of­ Beckford, you might start to get a contribution from­ someone else, relying on him like you did at the Den­ cost you the playoff, and from what I saw, he was­ toilet anyway, and not fit to fill Bombers boots!!!

    From stephenblatham, on Tue 19 May 2:24PM

  3. Millwall will be promoted and sustain on merit. Not on­ the fable that they belong and are entitled to it like­ cry baby Leeds.

    From NewarkYMCA, on Mon 18 May 3:33PM

  4. The playoffs should be scrapped, 1st 3 go up or 3rd­­ plays 4th in a Wembley final...The football league­­ should seriously think of changing the rules. It is­ unfair­ on a team which has played 46 hard games all­ season to­ finish 3rd to miss out promotion because of­ just one­ silly playoff game and be pipped by a team­ that maybe finishes 6th. Teams should be judged on­­ performance from August to May... Leeds fought hard­­ this season and last season(remember they were­ deducted­ 15 points - they still made the playoffs but­ lost). I­ feel sorry for the players and fans - Leeds­ have been made to suffer in the last 3 or 4 seasons,­ they now deserve a break into the topflight where they­ belong. Hope Becks and Delphy stay and bring Kandol­ back, next season have to go up.

    From dwblinc, on Sun 17 May 6:45PM

  5. Colin H - what a p-rick you are!
    Totally outplayed in­ both legs! You won't survive in the championship.­ You've neither the quality of players, facilities,­ nor fans for this to happen. Look forward to Leeds­ passing you on your way back down next year. ENJOY YOUR­ BRIEF SEASON IN THE SUN. KN-OB.

    From rob, on Sun 17 May 6:39PM

  6. fordy, man u won the league big big deal. you are a­ leeds fan, the best supported club in england, get your­ head up. the lord has chosen you. on and on.

    From ALAN, on Sun 17 May 10:27AM

  7. I LIKE TO KICK COLIN H HEAD IN

    From red hot hell, on Sun 17 May 9:20AM

  8. MILLLWALL WILL BE DIV 1 NEXT SEASON NOT GOOD ENOUGH,­ JUST LUCKY TO WIN LEEDS, FROM A LEEDS UTD FAN FOR FOR­ 45 YEARS SO I KNOW THE GOOD YEARS

    From red hot hell, on Sun 17 May 9:12AM

  9. at the end of the day it was not this game that cost us­ promotion, it was the woeful displays against teams­ like hereford and leyton o's . still spare a­ thought at least you lot don't have to share a home­ with a man utd fan.
    come on the peacocks for next­ season

    From fordy, on Sat 16 May 7:15PM

  10. tommy gunt, still in the turd div then you tw at

    From Colin H, on Sat 16 May 5:44PM

  11. COLIN H what a @#$% you are,another keyboard­ hero/saddo.

    From TOMMY GUN 4U, on Sat 16 May 4:49PM

  12. Recently, I discovered a hot place – T a l l h u b Com­ -- where many sexy tall singles who like sports and­ chatting there. I'm an open minded girl from UK, I­ also like discuss sports and love with tall guys on it.

    From diaihenry06, on Fri 15 May 7:52PM

  13. Nicely balanced and fair post Colin H, agree with­ everything you say mate.

    C'mon you Lions.

    From Shadow, on Fri 15 May 7:22PM

  14. har har har har har har har har har still can't­ stop laughing at those Leeds turds, you are no longer a­ big club and never will be. You are in the THIRD­ division, yep the third or should i say for you the­ turd division [like the joke tw ats], har har har har­ har har har har.

    From Colin H, on Fri 15 May 5:55PM

  15. the lion man, I agree Millwall outperfomed Leeds over 2­ legs. But 'epic encounter' dude lay off the­ pipe, it was a League One semi-final that featured 3­ goals total.

    From NewarkYMCA, on Fri 15 May 3:53PM

  16. feel sorry for leeds & thier fans but not for that­ arrogant @#$% beckford,sadly i doubt if he'll be at­ leeds next season.

    From ., on Fri 15 May 3:40PM

  17. What going on has the playoff bought out the worst in­ football fans. Leeds are a very good side that will be­ back. However football about scoring goals and millwall­ out scored leeds. The game was play with passion but­ with in the laws of the games. Lets not lose the fact­ that Millwall are at wembley because of that fact.­ Leeds built there team on attack millwall's built­ on defence Our defence over the two legs out proformed­ the leeds attack force. Leeds and Millwall give me­ every emotion a football fan can feel in this epic­ encounter. I great statement to netural arm fans to get­ down to the lower league games.

    From tony, on Fri 15 May 3:10PM

  18. Franchise F.C. will fold against Millwall. Those­ frauds will never be champions of anything relevant.

    From NewarkYMCA, on Fri 15 May 2:44PM

  19. Millwall is class, Leeds suck @#$%.

    From NewarkYMCA, on Fri 15 May 2:40PM

  20. grayson drown your sorrows.from leicester city

    From garymackness, on Fri 15 May 2:05PM
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