Derby through after play-off thriller
Derby are within one game of bringing Premiership football to Pride Park
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Tuesday, 15, May 2007 11:44
Derby County are into the Championship play-off final after claiming a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Southampton at Pride Park.
The Rams had led 2-1 from the first leg at St Mary's, but a spirited display from the visitors earned them a 3-2 win in the return and sent the game into extra-time and, eventually, penalties.
However when Darren Moore planted home a header after just three minutes of the tie to extend the hosts' aggregate lead there seemed little chance of such a dramatic finale.
But Southampton responded almost immediately as John Viafara pounced on a weak headed clearance from Stephen Bywater and punished the goalkeeper's ill-judged rush from goal with as assured lob into the unguarded net.
Both sides continued where they left from the weekend's see-sawing first leg as the action shuttled from end to end.
Viafara's levelled up the overall scores with an explosive second on 54 minutes, but this time Derby were the side to land a counter-punch as a period of pressure culminated in Leon Best's own goal twelve minutes later.
The defender's clumsy attempt to clear had seemed poised to settle the match until ex-Derby striker Grzegorz Rasiak returned to prolong his former club's agony with a predatory finish a minute from full-time.
Extra-time failed to produce any goals and the teams were forced to take their chances from 12 yards.
Best's evening failed to improve as he screwed the Saints' first spot-kick wide and when team-mate Inigo Idiakez blazed over the top on his team's fourth attempt Derby were assured their day at Wembley.