Report: Sunderland beaten by Luton Town in play-off semi-final

Sunderland have been beaten by Luton Town in the Championship play-off semi-finals.

Luke Phelps | May 16, 2023

Report: Sunderland beaten by Luton Town in play-off semi-final /

Sunderland lost 2-0 to Luton Town in the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final tonight, losing 3-2 on aggregate.

Sunderland went into tonight's game at Kenilworth Road with a 2-1 advantage after winning the first leg at the Stadium of Light last weekend.

Luton Town were expected to start quickly tonight as they went in search of an equalising goal, and they did just that.

Rob Edwards' side began on the front foot and after 10 minutes they found that equalising goal, with Gabriel Osho bundling home a loose ball from a Luton corner.

The Black Cats bounced back and had a penalty shout denied after the ball appeared to strike the hand of Luton defender Amari'i Bell, before the action was back in the Sunderland goalmouth with both Trai Hume and Luke O'Nien clearing the ball off the line in quick succession.

Another 10 minutes passed and Anthony Patterson was called into action, perhaps pulling out the save of the night as he got down low to push out a Carlton Morris header.

And just as the game looked like it was settling down ahead of half-time, Luton skipper Tom Lockyer met an Alfie Doughty cross inside the Sunderland box, and found the back of the Sunderland net with a firm header to put Luton in front in the tie.

The second half started equally as fast. Both teams had possession in the opposition box but it was Luton who remained on top.

Shortly before the hour mark, Tony Mowbray brought off Alex Pritchard for Aji Alese which allowed Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts to push on, but Luton persisted, winning corners and piling pressure on Patterson's six-yard box.

Elijah Adebayo had a header from a corner cleared off the line by Roberts, before the game entered a really cagey and dogged final 30.

Neither team had a clear scoring opportunity with Luton Town shutting up shop and allowing the Black Cats to have most of the possession.

And despite Sunderland efforts, they could barely get into the Luton penalty box in the final stages of the game, with the Hatters going on to book their place in the final at Wembley.

An heroic effort from Sunderland, capping a likewise 2022/23 season.

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