
Sheffield Wednesday make history with incredible four-goal play-off comeback and shootout win
Sheffield Wednesday pulled off the biggest comeback in Football League play-off history as a stunning fightback booked their place in the League One final thanks to a 5-3 win on penalties after overturning a four-goal first-leg deficit to win 5-1 after extra time. Hillsborough needed early goals to set this tie alight and got two in the first 25 minutes courtesy of a Michael Smith penalty and Lee Gregory, although Peterborough had chances through Ephron Mason-Clarke and Kwame Poku to put the tie to bed but Cameron Dawson stood strong to deny them. Reece James pulled the hosts to within one of Peterborough’s aggregate lead with 20 minutes to go and Hillsborough’s roof came off when Liam Palmer made it four with the last kick of normal time. Peterborough nudged ahead once again in extra time after Gregory nodded into his own net and Wednesday extraordinarily pulled level through Calum Paterson, resulting in penalties - Wednesday’s sensational comeback was sealed when Jack Hunt converted after Dan Butler hit the crossbar with the only miss of the shootout. Wednesday’s wish of an early goal came true after Marvin Johnson was brought down by Joe Ward inside the area - Smith sent Will Norris the wrong way to cut the deficit to three just eight minutes in to breathe life into the encounter. Peterborough had a chance to restore their large advantage 10 minutes later when Poku found himself in space inside the area but rifled an effort straight at Dawson. Posh were catching Wednesday on the break as they went in search for an early second, and had another chance but Mason-Clarke’s effort from outside the area needed saving by Dawson again. The Owls halved Peterborough’s aggregate advantage 25 minutes in after Paterson found himself out wide with the ball again, his low cross was turned home by Gregory with goalkeeper Norris in no man’s land. Peterborough remained a threat on the counter-attack and almost got their much needed goal when Mason-Clarke latched onto a through ball by Jack Taylor but was denied by Dawson for the second time in the half to keep the score at 2-0. The hosts started the second half in similar fashion to the first and Norris made an outstanding save to palm away Gregory’s goalbound bicycle kick. Wave after wave of Wednesday attack was coming at the Posh defence, who were seemingly stumbling their way through the tie - this time - Josh Windass’ first-time strike was met by Norris to deny another goal. It seemed only a matter of time before Darren Moore’s side struck again, and they did just that when James found himself one-on-one with Norris and coolly slotted home to set up a nervy last 20 minutes. The hosts thought they had their fourth but Dominic Iorfa’s free header from inside the area flew straight into the grateful grasp of Norris. Peterborough looked to have booked their place at Wembley but Wednesday had other ideas as the clock went into the 98th minute, a long ball into the box was met by the head of Aden Flint and Palmer bundled home to send the game into extra time. The visitors edged ahead in this remarkable play-off meeting when Butler’s free-kick was nodded into his own net by Gregory under pressure from Nathan Thompson. Wednesday looked down and out again but roared back with another equaliser in the 112th minute when Paterson stabbed home and sent the game to a penalty shootout and Butler’s miss miss proved crucial as Hunt’s winning kick signalled a pitch invasion. Read More It’s too easy – Darren Moore hails attempts to ‘shut down’ online racist abusers ‘Struggling’ Tommy Spurr steeled for charity fundraiser in aid of his son David Moyes concerned for family after trouble mars West Ham victory David Moyes concerned for family after trouble mars West Ham victory Jose Mourinho into another European final as Roma set up Sevilla showdown Eddie Howe says Newcastle win ‘huge’ but warns still work to do in top-four hunt
2023-05-19 06:37

Scheffler sizzles, Rahm sags as world's top-ranked players go in different directions at the PGA
The world's top-ranked golfers headed in different directions during the opening round of the PGA Championship
2023-05-19 06:28

Horse safety in spotlight as Derby-winner Mage goes for Preakness
The horse deaths at Churchill Downs that cast a pall over the Kentucky Derby continue to raise concerns as Mage vies for the second leg of US racing's coveted Triple...
2023-05-19 06:26

Rory McIlroy's 36-foot, par-saving putt triggers 1st-round turnaround at Oak Hill
Rory McIlroy finds himself in the mix at the PGA Championship thanks to a 36-foot par-saving putt from the fringe on his 11th hole
2023-05-19 06:25

Rise of the Kraken leaves GM Ron Francis pleased, not satisfied after playoff run
Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis and coach Dave Hakstol received an overwhelming message from their players as the team scattered following the end of its second season in existence, Getting to the playoffs and making a run was great and will go a long way in helping establish the Kraken in their hometown
2023-05-19 06:21

Dustin May's Elbow Injury Should Terrify the Dodgers
Dustin May injured his elbow just after returning from Tommy John surgery.
2023-05-19 06:21

Confident Cincinnati ready for Ohio derby clash
Major League Soccer leaders FC Cincinnati head into Saturday's Ohio derby with the Columbus Crew with their sights already...
2023-05-19 06:21

Eddie Howe says Newcastle win ‘huge’ but warns still work to do in top-four hunt
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has told his players their resounding Premier League victory over Brighton will count for nothing if they do not beat Leicester to clinch a place in the Champions League. The Magpies survived a test of their top-four credentials at St James’ Park on Thursday evening when they defended a 2-1 lead in the face of a determined Seagulls backlash before eventually killing off the game to win 4-1. As a result, they climbed four points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with both clubs having two games left, and will play in the Champions League next season if either the Reds lose at home to Aston Villa on Saturday or they beat the Foxes on Tyneside two days later. Asked if he could put into words how big a win it was, Howe said: “It’s a huge win for us. “I know it’s a bit of a cliche, but it won’t mean anything if we don’t back it up on Monday night and that’s an incredibly difficult game. After the high of today and what we’ve given in the match, we know we have to repeat it. “Nothing is given to you in the Premier League. We know Leicester’s qualities, so we have to be very calm, recover well and we have to have the same focus and mentality that we had today.” Newcastle looked to be cruising to victory when Deniz Undav’s own goal and a second from Dan Burn sent them in at the break 2-0 ahead, although Undav made amends within six minutes of the restart to spark something of a fightback before Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes struck at the death. I know it's a bit of a cliche, but it won't mean anything if we don't back it up on Monday night. Eddie Howe Howe’s side cannot now finish any lower than fifth and are assured of Europa League football at worst, but the 45-year-old is still not allowing himself to get excited. He said: “Honestly I don’t [get excited]. I take great pride in the performance tonight. I’ll go back home, watch the game and I’ll be, I hope, really proud of what I see, really enthused by the players delivering a brilliant product to watch for our supporters. “The excitement stuff doesn’t really exist in this job because you know there’s just another game and another challenge and it won’t stop even if we hit our goal. There’ll just be another challenge and it will hit us in the face next season.” Liverpool’s seven-game winning run had piled the pressure on the Magpies, although it is Jurgen Klopp’s men who now have little or no margin for error. However, Howe said: “We’re not looking at any other teams or trying to make any sort of statement, we just needed to win for us and that will be the same against Leicester.” For Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, there was disappointment as he was forced to make changes to the side which beat Arsenal at the weekend, although they too have a prize within their grasp. The Seagulls are currently sixth on 58 points, one clear of Tottenham and Aston Villa but with a game in hand. De Zerbi, whose team host Southampton and Manchester City before finishing the campaign with a trip to Villa, said: “I think we will be able to qualify anyway for Europe. “We have to win two games. We will play in our stadium and with our fans in our stadium, we play with 12 players. “It is a difficult period, but to qualify for Europe, we have to be stronger than everything because if we do, we reach a historic target, a big target, and we have right motivation and energy.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Jose Mourinho into another European final as Roma set up Sevilla showdown Bryson DeChambeau reflects on eventful year after setting early pace at US PGA Stefanos Tsitsipas victory sets up Daniil Medvedev semi-final showdown in Rome
2023-05-19 06:19

NBA rumors: Doc Rivers might not be unemployed for long after all
Days after his firing as Philadelphia 76ers head coach, Doc Rivers may not be out of a job for too long as he is being linked to vacancies.In recent weeks, NBA teams have been of the mindset "What have you done for me lately," even to those coaches that lifted the Larry O'Brien Tr...
2023-05-19 06:17

Jose Mourinho into another European final as Roma set up Sevilla showdown
Jose Mourinho’s Roma will take on perennial Europa League champions Sevilla in the final in Budapest in two weeks’ time. Roma stoutly defended their 1-0 advantage from the first leg against Bayer Leverkusen to secure the goalless draw they needed while Sevilla defeated Juventus 2-1 after extra-time. Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen threw everything at Roma in a bid to level matters on aggregate but the closest they came was a powerful shot from Moussa Diaby in the 12th minute that hit the bar. It was a Mourinho masterclass in the second half as Roma denied their opponents clear-cut opportunities, with Sardar Azmoun’s close-range effort going narrowly wide late on. Roma are bidding to make it back-to-back European titles after winning the Europa Conference League last season. A thrilling game in Seville was decided by Erik Lamela’s header five minutes into extra-time. Moise Kean hit the post for Juve in the first half but they were indebted to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny for a string of saves, the best denying Lucas Ocampos. The Italians took the lead in the 65th minute through Dusan Vlahovic moments after he came off the bench, but six minutes later another substitute, Suso, equalised with a stunning strike. Sevilla thought they had won it at the end of normal time but Szczesny produced another brilliant save to keep out Youssef En-Nesyri’s header. The Pole was beaten by Lamela, though, the Argentinian meeting Bryan Gil’s cross with a header into the bottom corner, and, despite Marcos Acuna being shown a second yellow card for time wasting, Sevilla held on to reach a seventh final in 18 years, where they will look to maintain their perfect record. The Europa Conference League final, meanwhile, will be between West Ham, who claimed a 3-1 aggregate win over AZ Alkmaar, and Fiorentina. The Italians lost the first leg 2-1 at home to Basel but won 3-1 on the night thanks to Antonin Barak’s goal deep into stoppage time at the end of extra-time. Nicolas Gonzalez had earlier scored twice for Fiorentina either side of an equaliser from Zeki Amdouni. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Bryson DeChambeau reflects on eventful year after setting early pace at US PGA Stefanos Tsitsipas victory sets up Daniil Medvedev semi-final showdown in Rome From illness to birth of daughter – Ryan Fox’s remarkable US PGA build-up
2023-05-19 06:04

Sevilla & Roma to conest 2023 Europa League final
The identity of the teams playing in the 2023 UEFA Europa League final has been confirmed.
2023-05-19 06:00

Eastern Conference finals coaching matchup as intriguing as the action on court
As much as this latest Eastern Conference finals pairing between the Heat and Celtics is a matchup that will lean heavily on stars like Jimmy Butler and Jayson Tatum, Game 1 proved it also will be a clash of Boston's rookie coach Joe Mazzulla and Miami's Erik Spoelstra
2023-05-19 05:53
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