Windass late goal sends Sheffield Wednesday to Championship

Sheffield Wednesday have sealed their return to the Championship after a 1-0 win over 10-man Barnsley in the League One Playoff final at Wembley.

The atmosphere at Wembley was electric as Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley clashed in the League One play-off final. The first half unfolded as a tightly contested battle, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut opportunities.

The early stages were marked by fierce challenges from both sides, setting the tone for an intense encounter. It took 10 minutes for the first notable chance to emerge, falling to Dominic Iorfa, who unleashed a volley towards goal, but Harry Isted was up to the task, parrying the shot away.

Despite Sheffield Wednesday's dominance under the sun at Wembley, Barnsley remained resolute, frustrating their opponents and preserving their clean sheet. 

The opening 45 minutes witnessed limited controversy, although the Reds found themselves on the receiving end of two controversial refeering decisions shortly after the break.

The first incident occurred when Lee Gregory attempted a clearance inside his own box but unintentionally struck the leg of Liam Kitching. Barnsley appealed for a penalty, but both referee Tim Robinson and VAR official Tony Harrington saw no reason to intervene. 

Just minutes later, Gregory fell victim to a late challenge from Adam Phillips during a 50-50 duel. The referee brandished a straight red card, leaving Barnsley with 10 men.

The injustice seemed to ignite a fire within Barnsley, as they responded shortly after, as Kitching's header from Nicky Cadden's shot struck the crossbar, injecting sudden life into the game. 

As the intensity momentarily subsided, the Owls struggled to capitalize on their numerical advantage and Cameron Dawson came to their rescue in the 79th minute, producing a splendid reaction save to deny James Norwood's powerful drive aimed at the top corner.

The scoreline remained unchanged after 90 minutes, leading to extra time. Sheffield Wednesday seized control of the match during this period, mounting wave after wave of attacks and their efforts were nearly rewarded when Michael Ihiekwe's goal-bound header was cleared off the line by Mads Andersen. 

Isted then delivered a moment of brilliance, pulling off an astonishing save with his outstretched right hand to deny Michael Smith from point-blank range.

In the 105th minute, Barry Bannan came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock, curling a first-time strike against the post. Barnsley had a rare counter-attacking opportunity shortly after, but Luca Connell's attempt from a promising position sailed wide of the mark, much to his dismay.

And just 55 seconds into the second half of extra time, Will Vaulks unleashed a magnificent first-time shot from the edge of the box, finding the top corner. The celebration was short-lived as the linesman's flag signaled an offside in the build-up, nullifying the goal and leaving Sheffield Wednesday crestfallen.

With the prospect of a penalty shootout looming, Josh Windass shattered Barnsley's resistance, meeting Gregory's cross with a spectacular diving header and Isted, who had been almost perfect until that moment, could only helplessly watch.

Sheffield Wednesday celebrated their return to the Championship after a two-year absence, bouncing back from their relegation in 2021. Meanwhile, Barnsley faced the disappointment of enduring a second consecutive season in the third tier of English football.