Scunthorpe win dramatic shootout
Scunthorpe were relegated from the Championship last season
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Friday, 15, May 2009 10:50
Scunthorpe United reached the League One playoff final after beating MK Dons 7-6 on penalties at Stadium MK.
Scunthorpe set-up a showdown with Millwall in the final at Wembley after Tore Andre Flo missed his spot-kick for the Dons. The game finished 0-0 after 120 minutes.
With the tie level at 1-1 after the first leg, there was plenty to play for. And both side sides carved out good chances in the opening exchanges with Jason Puncheon firing wide from the edge of the area for Di Matteo's side, while Grant McCann blazed over on seven minutes for the visitors.
The game sparked into life in the closing minutes of the half with David Mirfin heading agonisingly wide from Martyn Woolford's cross for Scunthorpe.
MK Dons were then denied twice by keeper Joe Murphy, who saved low efforts from Sam Baldock and Jason Puncheon.
Puncheon went close again at the start of the second half with a long-range effort that flew inches wide, while at the other end Paul Hayes' effort was smothered by keeper Willy Gueret.
Di Matteo's men finished the half stronger but were unable to grab the winning goal with Aaron Wilbraham hooking a shot wide from six yards while Luke Chadwick's header in stoppage time drifted just wide.
After neither side failed to break the deadlock in the 30 minutes of extra time, it went to a shootout.
Cliff Bryne was the first to miss for Scunthorpe but Puncheon then had his spot-kick saved for the Dons.
Matthew Sparrow missed with the score at 4-4 for the visitors, but the Dons again failed to capitalise with Jude Stirling's tame spot-kick saved.
After Ian Morris scored to make it 7-6, ex-Chelsea strike Flo missed with his penalty to give Scunthorpe a place in the final.