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 56 - 75 of 135

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  1. well done millwall!!!

    From vex_red_uk, on Fri 15 May 7:58AM

  2. It is true that a quality side should be able to get­ automatically promoted. At the end of the day, it must­ really suck to get so near, like Leeds United and not­ get there in the end. But Millwall have yet another­ game to play so there are no celebrations yet for them.­ It would suck for them even more if they were to lose­ the final. I wouldn't hold my breath yet.

    From sappercommando25, on Fri 15 May 7:55AM

  3. Its sad to think that Leeds arent good enough to get­ promoted this year, if they were a quality side they­ would have won automatic promotion, yes? Anyway like a­ lot of supporters clubs, Leeds have d...head supporters­ claiming to be fans but seem proud to give their club a­ bad name. No wonder we talk of clubs in the same­ breath as their gobby, scrap happy, numbsculls who only­ turn up to abuse players, officials and any spectators­ home or away. I cant understand how they get away with­ it, surely home clubs have CCTV. For the first­ offence, identify them, give them a 2year "match­ day" community service order; any subsequent­ offence should be a life ban from every football match­ anywhere in Europe. Knowing the law, they'd­ probably just get a slap on the wrist. I'd like to­ know how bans can be enforced unless "match­ day" community service was a standard punishment. ­ Ron.M Harley-Hotspurs

    From Ronald, on Fri 15 May 7:38AM

  4. nae luck Leeds UTD HA HA HA

    From JEEMS, on Fri 15 May 7:36AM

  5. I don't understand half of these comments! I wish­ people would write properly.

    From normsnebs, on Fri 15 May 7:20AM
  6. 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 robopires10, on Fri 15 May 7:16AM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    millwall have not got there yet so same again next­ season and we will win on and off the pitch

    From johnsmithman, on Fri 15 May 7:14AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    to all leeds fans across the world we will be back,­ just dont like play offs, to all millwall fans we will­ pass you next season

    From johnsmithman, on Fri 15 May 7:10AM

  9. Myheart said leeds but millwalls wide players won the­ day.do scunthorpe have any chance tomorrow bookies­ think 4-0 drubbing on cards well see.

    From iancampbell11, on Fri 15 May 7:03AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    COME ON YOU WHITES MARCHIN ON TOGETHER WE WILL WIN THE­ LEAGUE NEXT YEAR AND SHUT THE MILLWALL SCUM UP AND ALL­ YOU OTHER K**B ED`S WHO`S HAD A POP AT US
    ­ LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS

    From markedgley30, on Fri 15 May 6:53AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    COME ON YOU WHITES MARCHING ON TOGETHER WE WILL WIN­ LEAGUE NEXT YEAR AND SHUT THE MILLWALL SCUM UP AND ALL­ THE OTHER KN0B E`DS WHO`S HAD A LITTLE POP AT US
    ­ LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS

    From markedgley30, on Fri 15 May 6:46AM

  12. I've just been to the game. As a Leeds supporter,­ it was painful to see the equaliser go in and to walk­ past the 1000 Milwall fans going crazy at the final­ whistle. But the worst thing, worse than anything­ I've seen in the past 5 years at Leeds was on the­ way out of the ground walking back to the car when­ about 50 chavs passed us running back towards Elland­ Road. They clearly hadn't been to the game and were­ just going for a fight. That's where we get our­ reputation from.

    I support my home town club and I­ always will do.

    Congratulations to Milwall. I hate to­ say this but they were the better side over the 2 legs­ and their fans really did try their best to outsing us­ despite being outnumbered 37-1.

    I said this exact same­ thing last year but "Oh Well. We can just win the­ championship next year." Maybe...

    From Fishcake, on Fri 15 May 6:40AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I told you Leeds would get a kicking both on and off­ the pitch and they did, Leeds just did not have the­ bottel, come on Millwall

    From oconnorgod, on Fri 15 May 6:33AM

  14. 60 - A gloating Manure fan, who'd have thought it ?

    From Paul, on Fri 15 May 6:24AM

  15. LIFETIME LEEDS FAN FROM IRELAND, TOOK MY KIDS TO LEEDS­ FOR 1ST TIME IN APRIL , COULDN'T BELIEVE BEHAVOIUR­ OF HOME FANS BOTH PARENTS AND KIDS. LOW LIFE SCUM.­ WON'T BE BACK

    From keithandsandra.monaghan, on Fri 15 May 6:20AM

  16. what a bunch of kids its about the FOOTBALL enjoy the­ game and get on with your life "fighting"get­ a life sad people who need some­ attention?"supporters" ha

    From davidstephen69, on Fri 15 May 6:11AM

  17. Nice to see we are still so loved. Anyway, tacking the­ season on the whole we didn't deserve to go up, and­ especially after these games. Couldn't string three­ passes together without giving it away, and its been­ like that for a while. We are simply not good enough­ and would have only come straight back down, Grayson­ needs to do a serious reshuffle. I know he get us a lot­ of goals but I don't want to see Beckford in a­ Leeds shirt ever again, no effort what so ever, stands­ around waiting for the perfect ball, Berbatov without­ the talent. Its a shame it doesn't mean as much to­ the players as it does to us fans. We have the manager,­ now lets get the players.

    From davidman, on Fri 15 May 6:11AM

  18. Ha ha dirty Leeds! Still Milwall aren't much­ better - pair of scrunty scum teams the lot of them.

    From Colonel K, on Fri 15 May 6:03AM

  19. MK DONS ALL THE WAY YOU CHUMPS

    From rty, on Fri 15 May 6:02AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    from a MAN UTD fan. well done Millwall. cannot stand­ the leeds scum. keep them in the duldrums for a few­ more years yet. Leeds fans are you enjoying Man Utds­ continued success? thought so! ahaahahahaha!

    From lee, on Fri 15 May 6:00AM
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