Charlton go from ridiculous to sublime as last-gasp winner earns promotion
An afternoon that began with the ridiculous ended in sublime, unbridled joy for Charlton Athletic, a club finally on the up once more.
The latest of scrappy winners, scored as this play-off final headed towards extra time, ended Charlton’s three-year stay in the third tier and provided Lee Bowyer with the first major victory of his career in the dugout.
Patrick Bauer’s winner in the fourth minute of time added on was met with wide-eyed disbelief by those in red. There had been similar expressions at the start, too, when Charlton goalkeeper Dillon Phillips produced one of the all-time errors to give Sunderland an early lead.
There was no man more relieved than Phillips, then, when Bowyer’s side completed their turnaround with what was essentially the last kick. It was not quite as spectacular as the 1998 play-off final between these sides, but try telling the Charlton faithful that this did not taste just as sweet. Crushed under the feet of their own ownership in recent years, the fans have their joy back under Bowyer and now they have the Championship back, too.
“I got a bit emotional walking out,” ut,” said Bowyer. “This club gave me a chance as a kid. To come back and nd then walk them out at Wembley ey is so special to me.
The club has been through hrough some bad times. imes. To see everyone ne come together.
What we have done is something omething special.”
As ever, Charlton on joy contrasted rasted with Sunderland underland misery. Jack
Ross’s side were not creative ive enough in attack ttack and paid the price. This was their seventh consecutive trip to Wembley without a victory, stretching back to 1973. “I don’t think that group of players, what they gave for me this season and today, deserved to lose in that manner,” Ross said.
The stakes are always high in play-off finals, but this felt even more significant for two clubs who have endured such difficulties. The hope now for Charlton’s fans, united again since Bowyer’s appointment, is that promotion will speed up the departure of the loathed Roland Duchatelet Duchatelet. In Bowyer’s words, the club will now be a far more attractive pr proposition for buyers. buyers
As for Sun Sunderland, an imme immediate return to the ChamC pionship with what is essentially a ChampionshipChampionship level squad would w have marked the end of a disasd trous slide. The
promise of investment within days, if they reached the second tier, failed to work as an incentive. When the sadness becomes less debilitating, there are serious conversations to be had.
Tension was in the air from the start. Perhaps that was the reason for Phillips’s error of a lifetime. Mouhamadou-naby Sarr’s backpass was not the kindest, but that was no excuse for the way Phillips allowed it to roll under his studs into the net.
Charlton’s players responded brilliantly, taking control and surging forward with menace. Lyle Taylor was dangerous, while the highly rated Joe Aribo was influential in midfield.
Their equaliser was lovely. Aribo and Anfernee Dijksteel combined to set up Taylor, and his cross found Ben Purrington at the back post. At the other end of the pitch, Phillips clasped his gloved hands together and stared up at the gods in thanks.
It soon became an occasion defined by blocks and clearances. Grant Leadbitter and Lee Cattermole were controlling the midfield for Sunderland but chaos arrived with a left-wing cross towards their back post. It was Bauer, falling over as he shot, who made the crucial difference.
Charlton Athletic (3-5-2) Phillips; Bielik, Bauer, Sarr (Pearce 45); Dijksteel, Pratley (Williams 71), Cullen, Aribo, Purrington; Taylor, Parker. Subs Maxwell (g), Forster-caskey, Reeves, Solly, Lapslie. Booked Sarr.
Sunderland (4-2-3-1) Mclaughlin; O’nien, Ozturk, Flanagan, Oviedo; Cattermole, Leadbitter; Honeyman, Power (Morgan 9), Maguire (Grigg 57); Wyke (Mcgeady 72). Subs Stryjek (g), Matthews, Gooch, Dunne. Booked Grigg, O’nien, Leadbitter, Flanagan.
Referee Andy Madley (West Yorkshire).