Charlton Athletic will be playing Championship football next season after Patrick Bauer’s stoppage time winner earned them a dramatic 2-1 win over Sunderland in the League One Play-Off final.
With the game heading towards extra-time after a low-key second-half, Bauer’s 94th minute header was initially blocked, only for the defender to be on hand to scramble home the rebound.
Lee Bowyer’s side recovered from conceding a bizarre early own goal – Naby Sarr’s back pass in the 5th minute misjudged by goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, who could only watch the ball roll over the line to give Sunderland an unexpected lead.
The Black Cats failed to take advantage of their good fortune though with Grant Leadbitter’s low shot from 25 yards tipped wide by Phillips as Charlton continued to reel from the early set-back.
But they eventually settled and deservedly levelled just past the half-hour mark as Lyle Taylor combined well with Anfernee Dijksteel and Joe Aribo before his low cross was met by Ben Purrington at the back post.
The win sees Charlton promoted to the Championship after three years in the third tier, at the expense of much-fancied Sunderland.