2019 EFL Trophy final explained

2019 EFL Trophy Final
Event:2018–19 EFL Trophy
Team1:Portsmouth
Team1score:2
Team2:Sunderland
Team2score:2
Details:After extra time
Portsmouth won 5–4 on penalties
Stadium:Wembley Stadium
City:London
Man Of The Match1a:Matthew Clarke
Referee:Dean Whitestone
Attendance:85,621
Previous:2018
Next:2020

The 2019 EFL Trophy Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 31 March 2019. It decided the winners of the 2018–19 EFL Trophy, the 35th edition of the competition, a knock-out tournament for the 48 teams in League One and League Two and 16 category one academy sides.

The Final was contested by League One sides Portsmouth and Sunderland, of which the winner received £100,000 and the Runners-Up received £50,000.[1] This was the first Trophy final pitting two English football champions against each other in 31 years. It was also the first EFL Trophy Final to be contested by two former Premier League clubs.[2]

The Portsmouth team used Wembley's West changing room, while Sunderland used the East. A coin toss decided that Sunderland had first choice on kit selection. This meant Portsmouth played in blue away socks to avoid clashing with Sunderland's first choice red socks.

Portsmouth won the final after coming from one goal behind with English forward Oliver Hawkins scoring the winning penalty kick in the shootout to hand Portsmouth their first cup trophy since the 2008 FA Cup.[3] Portsmouth centre back, Matthew Clarke, was named man of the match.[4] The game was attended by 85,021 people, making it the highest attended match in the UK and the second highest in Europe that weekend. It set a new attendance record for the Football League Trophy, surpassing the 1988 final.[5]

Route to the final

Sunderland

Match

width=25!width=25
GK 15 Craig MacGillivray
RB 20 Nathan Thompson
CB 6 Christian Burgess
CB 5 Matthew Clarke
LB 3 Lee Brown
DM 7 Tom Naylor
DM 33
RM 10
CM 8
LM 11
CF 22
Substitutes:
GK 35 Alex Bass
DF 38
DF 2
MF 26
MF 30
FW 32 James Vaughan
FW 9
Manager:
Kenny Jackett
width=25!width=25
GK 1 Jon McLaughlin
RB 13 Luke O'Nien
CB 12 Tom Flanagan
CB 15
LB 16
DM 6
RM 23
CM 17
CM 10 George Honeyman
LM 19
CF 22
Substitutes:
GK 25
DF 30 Jimmy Dunne
DF 33
MF 8 Dylan McGeouch
MF 11
MF 27
FW 9
Manager:
Jack Ross

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Checkatrade Trophy knockout rules explained - prize money, key dates and who can play. Bristol Post. 4 December 2018.
  2. Web site: Checkatrade Trophy Final: Facts & Figures . . 28 March 2019 . 1 April 2019 .
  3. Web site: Portsmouth’s Oliver Hawkins sinks Sunderland to seal Checkatrade Trophy . . Ben. Fisher. 1 April 2019 . 1 April 2019 .
  4. Web site: Match report: Checkatrade Trophy Final . . 1 April 2019 . 1 April 2019 .
  5. Web site: Checkatrade Trophy final: Portsmouth 2-2 Sunderland (aet, 5-4 on pens). BBC Sport. Adam . Williams . 31 March 2019. 31 March 2019.