tawandamusarurwa
TWENTY-TWO years after they were relegated, Coventry City stand on the cusp of English Premiership return after edging past Middlesbrough to set up a Championship play-off final showdown with Marvelous Nakamba’s Luton Town.
Coventry had a long romance with Zimbabwean fans, as Warriors legend Peter Ndlovu spent the better part of his playing career with the club, making 179 appearances and scoring 41 goals.
However, it was during the period Ndlovu had been loaned to Huddersfield Town in the 2000-2001 season that Coventry was relegated from the Premiership after finishing 19th on the log table.
But by the time the team was demoted, Ndlovu had made an indelible mark, having also been the first African to feature in the era of the English Premier League.
Two decades after he waved goodbye to the fans at Highfield Road, Coventry must now come up against another Zimbabwean, Nakamba – who has been enjoying a purple patch for Luton Town – in the decider on who gets promoted into the Premiership.
Coventry found a way past Middlesbrough in an attritional semi-final second leg to reach the Championship play-off final.
They will face Luton Town in the showpiece decider at Wembley on May 27.
After 147 goalless minutes across both games in a tension-gripped tie low on moments of genuine quality, playmaker Gustavo Hamer delivered an outstanding finish to ultimately settle the contest.
After Boro gave possession away on halfway, Viktor Gyokeres toed the ball into space beyond goalkeeper Zack Steffen on the edge of the box and Hamer took control to arc his shot into the roof of the net with precision.
He almost conjured up a second with a blistering free-kick which smacked the angle of post and bar with Steffen beaten.
That chance, and the subsequent desperation, seemed to rally Boro, who saw Riley McGree’s shot blocked in the box as they chased an equaliser, while McGree cut back for Cameron Archer but he could not bring the ball down and get a clean shot away.
Substitute Matt Crooks had the ball in the net, and Boro fans on their feet, with two minutes to go but an offside flag brought their celebrations to a halt.
Eight minutes of added time again prompted the Boro roar, and goalkeeper Ben Wilson had to be alert to tip Isaiah Jones’ searching centre over, while Archer was offside when he hit the bar with a late effort.
Somehow the Sky Blues clung on, keeping their discipline, shape and a clean sheet to book their Wembley spot. – Online Reporter/BBC Sport
Online Reporter