Luton Town has secured promotion to the Premier League after a thrilling penalty shootout victory against Coventry at Wembley. Jordan Clark gave Luton an early lead with a stunning finish after just 20 minutes, but Gustavo Hamer equalized for Coventry to take the game into extra time. After eleven perfect penalties from both sides, Fankaty Dabo missed in sudden death for Coventry, granting promotion to Luton.
Luton legend Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu joked that he had “completed football” after winning promotion to the Premier League. The midfielder has been a keystone figure for Luton since their National League championship-winning side in 2013 and has now achieved promotion from every division in the EFL as well as the National League with one club.
Luton hero Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu sent an incredible message to team-mate Tom Lockyer after the defender watched promotion glory in hospital following his scary collapse at Wembley. Lockyer’s recovery followed initial fears from fans and players a couple of hours earlier as medics from both teams treated him on the pitch.
Tom Lockyer celebrated Luton Town’s Championship play-off final win from his hospital bed. The club captain was stretchered off the pitch early in the first half after appearing to collapse. But after the Hatters won the clash by beating Coventry after a penalty shootout, Lockyer was still able to celebrate.
Luton Town has become the first club in English football history to go all the way from the top-flight to non-league and come back again. The club that was mixing in the National League with the likes of Tamworth, Alfreton Town, and Hayes and Yeading will now play against Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City.
The nail-biting penalty shootout saw Luton emerge victorious with a 6-5 scoreline. Coventry defender Fankaty Dabo missed the crucial penalty, blazing high over the crossbar and into the ecstatic Luton Town fans behind the goal.
The two sets of players were drilled by their coaches and squad mates before the captains met with Michael Oliver for two coin tosses. The first went Luton’s way, and the kicks were taken at the orange end of Wembley. The second was also won by the Hatters, and they went first in the shootout.
Luton’s promotion to the Premier League marks a remarkable achievement for the club, which has faced financial perils, 30-point deductions, and four seasons in non-league. The Hornets, who plucked Rob Edwards from Forest Green last summer but dispensed with him just ten games into his reign, may be watching with envy as Luton celebrates their historic victory.