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

Comment 76 - 95 of 135

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  1. to scrobjohn, now that was not a nice comment but i­ will keep an eye out for you when and if you do pay us­ a visit and try is the word. but we are men of peace­ these days ahem but if nothing else we done the job on­ leeds and we have a bad name but reading all these­ comments we are the lesser of two evils. Millwall till­ i die

    From demo mick, on Fri 15 May 7:29AM

  2. we were well chuffed & not particularly surprised­ just how easily we coped with everything Leeds threw at­ us on their patch last night – fantastic, disciplined­ defence from the boys...a shame the Leeds players can’t­ mirror their fans passion & determination
    it’s­ still very apparent that Leeds simply aren’t good­ enough for Championship football yet, & it’ll get­ tougher for them next year when the Premier clubs start­ sniffing one or two of their higher profile­ players...so, Wembley here we come, & a 2-1 win v/s­ those MK muppets........no-one likes us!

    From tex, on Fri 15 May 7:19AM

  3. these abusive comments seem to be coming from manu­ fans , typical cos you throw abuse at all teams , you­ don't seem to know any different , i feel sorry for­ you , both millwall and leeds put up a good game­ pleasant to watch , and know diving good tough match ,­ united players could learn alot from these teams

    From NO 1 GARDENER, on Fri 15 May 7:19AM

  4. so manu fans don't taunt , haaaaaaaaa ­ haaaaaaaaaaa , you sad person

    From NO 1 GARDENER, on Fri 15 May 7:11AM

  5. leeds....losers........leeds......losers......leeds....­ ...losers.....leeds.....losers

    these words go so well­ together..............

    KAIRDIFF FOREVER

    well done­ the lions look forward to you trying to smash up our­ new stadium

    From scrobjohn, on Fri 15 May 7:10AM

  6. lets hope for the good of english football that ronaldo­ , the diver , cheat , its the only way he wins games­ for united , goes abroad in the summer , tevez and­ giggs are the only fair playersin the united team ,

    From NO 1 GARDENER, on Fri 15 May 7:09AM

  7. harkinsinturkey - That my friend is the best comment­ any Man utd fan could have written,,spot on pal.

    From akbamw, on Fri 15 May 6:59AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    poor poor leeds........

    ha ha ha ! are you gonna cry­ like usual......

    cant fight .........cant play­ football.........

    lets hope for the good of football­ you go down next year
    bunch of inbred scummers

    From waffen65, on Fri 15 May 6:59AM

  9. joestone99uk Civilised?
    So you must be in Iraq­ then!
    we all hope so

    From Stevo1, on Fri 15 May 6:57AM

  10. ha ha leeds..............
    losers again like­ always..........
    look forward to seeing you in the non­ league....
    @#$% city @#$% people @#$%­ team.........

    bluebirds

    From shaun, on Fri 15 May 6:51AM

  11. its like the song we sing and after trying to get my­ voucher, which was more like a secret squirrel episode­ i still missed the match. But well done boys even if no­ one likes us and after that game why should we care. It­ was a good game and now we have to do it again. Just­ wondering where i got to go for my ticket this time and­ will we have to learn a new hand shake to obtain­ it.good report of the match. Millwall till i die.

    From demo mick, on Fri 15 May 6:41AM

  12. Leeds got what they deserve........NOTHING
    The most­ dispicable fans alive....the way they taunt away­ fans.
    This from a Man U fan
    Will be an even LONGER time­ for you lot of @#$% to have a go @ us.
    Stay where you­ belong in the lower regions.
    You horrible disgusting­ twats

    From harkinsinturkey, on Fri 15 May 6:39AM

  13. millwall deserved it,great season lads,one more game to­ win.lions!

    From clairewatson74, on Fri 15 May 5:43AM

  14. Dons will slaughter Scunthope and Milwall. Easily the­ better of the last two teams by a country mile. GO THE­ DONS FROM A FORMER MK AND UK RESIDENT

    From ninja_king_returns, on Fri 15 May 3:37AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Recently, I discovered a hot place -- T a l l h u b Co­­ m -- 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 arjinroben06, on Fri 15 May 3:03AM

  16. ha ha ha ha ha leeds are scum,toilet of the­ north........sorry i mean the british isles

    From deesydave, on Fri 15 May 2:22AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Well thats the championship saved from one set of­ scumbag fans, lets just hope MKdonalds stuff Millwall­ and save it from the other lot of scumbags.

    From ettchy, on Fri 15 May 2:03AM

  18. If football is pointless joestone99uk, then why are you­ wasting your time by doing this great sport the­ disservice of voicing your criticism on a football­ comments page?Be interesting to know where is so­ civilised.

    From Mick, on Fri 15 May 1:48AM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Wow, southern chavs Vs northern chavs...yawn. Thank God­ I left the crumbling UK for a country where people are­ CIVILISED and don't beat each other up over­ something as pointless as football.

    From joestone99uk, on Fri 15 May 1:29AM

  20. leeds just is not good

    From david, on Fri 15 May 1:00AM
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