Luton dramatically complete fairytale rise from non-league to Premier League
Luton completed their fairytale rise from non-league to Premier League with a dramatic, sudden-death penalty shoot-out victory against Coventry in the Championship play-off final. Just nine years on from ending their five-season stretch in the Conference Premier, the Hatters are celebrating returning to the top-flight for the first time since 1992. Previous point deductions and disappointments were left in the rear-view mirror at Wembley, where Jordan Clark’s opener was cancelled out by Coventry favourite Gustavo Hamer. The match finished 1-1 after extra-time and Fankaty Dabo’s penalty miss meant a famous 6-5 sudden-death shoot-out victory for jubilant Luton. It was a cruel way for the season to end – a £170m clash between clubs that have both gone through the mill during their decades away from the big time. These teams were promoted from League Two together in 2018 and the latter went into half-time ahead, with Clark scoring a deserved opener for the dominant Hatters. Rob Edwards’ side rallied impressively after captain Tom Lockyer’s concerning early collapse, but Coventry improved after the break. Hamer, City’s semi-final hero against Middlesbrough, impressively levelled as the match went to extra-time. Luton thought they had won it in the 116th minute through Joe Taylor, only for the VAR to find the youngster had handled when dispossessing Jonathan Panzo. Promotion went down to penalties and Coventry substitute Dabo was first to miss, securing Luton’s promotion to the Premier League. The players held up Lockyer’s shirt as they celebrated in front of their fans. Both managers stuck with the players that sealed their ticket to Wembley, where Gabriel Osho thought he had put his side into an early lead. The Luton defender bundled home following a Lockyer header, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Frustration quickly turned to concern as the Luton skipper fell to the floor when running back. A hush fell upon Wembley as Lockyer underwent treatment before leaving on a stretcher and being replaced by Reece Burke. Luton later confirmed their captain had been taken to hospital for further tests, saying “he is responsive and talking to his family, who are with him”. Town stood up in their captain’s absence and heaped pressure on Coventry, with top scorer Carlton Morris hooking wide and seeing another attempt blocked. Coventry were struggling to get out of their own half and were caught out in the 23rd minute on one of the few occasions they did. A long ball down the left flank was held up superbly by Elijah Adebayo, who played in Clark to lash home at the near post. Luton fans thought the net would bulge again six minutes later but Adebayo lifted wide as he attempted to beat goalkeeper Ben Wilson. Shell-shocked Coventry could not get going and Adebayo had no arguments after seeing a goal ruled out for turning in Callum Doyle’s clearance with his arm. City’s only shot of the opening period followed as Hamer hammered over, but boss Mark Robins had them revived after the break. Luton’s hearts were in their mouths when Ethan Horvath’s clearance ballooned off a team-mate and out of harm’s way, before Liam Kelly and Luke McNally had attempts. Coventry’s increased attacking intent brought about a 66th-minute leveller in front of their travelling hordes. Viktor Gyokeres was put through down the left and the frontman cut back for Hamer to level with a low first-time strike. Substitute Matt Godden took a touch and lifted over as Coventry searched for a quick-fire second but play soon became broken up as tension ratcheted up. Hamer went off injured and both sides seemed more intent to not lose than to win it. Clark missed a free-kick and Godden volleyed wide as the match went to extra-time. Gyokeres got away a fierce effort that Horvath eventually got hold of in the first period, before Luton’s Clark was booked for diving in the box. Replays appeared to show goalkeeper Wilson caught him, if only just. Exhausted players continued to require treatment or replacement as the second half of extra-time came and went. Luton thought they had won it in the most dramatic fashion in the 116th minute, but the VAR saw Taylor had handled when dispossessing Panzo before firing home. The final whistle saw all eyes focused on the Luton end of the stadium for the shoot-out, where Dabo missed after the first 11 spot-kicks were coolly converted. Read More How much do Championship play-off final winners earn? Of course the play-off final is about money – but Coventry and Luton also represent something greater A tiny ground and a squad costing less than a Man City sub. How are Luton one game from the Premier League? How much is winning the Championship play-off final worth? Luton vs Coventry LIVE: Result and reaction from Championship play-off final Coventry and Luton are proof the play-off final means more than just money
2023-05-28 03:47
Man shows off 'cool' snail he's found – unaware it could kill him in an instant
Think of a snail and you’ll most likely picture a dull, brown pest, feasting on your old neighbour’s lettuces or creeping lazily up your front door. Whereas, in actual fact, they are one of the deadliest animals to humans on earth. Obviously, not the kind you get in UK gardens, but freshwater snails. This is because they harbour dead parasites, most notably parasitic flatworms known as flukes. Indeed, a terrible disease transmitted by flukes, and known as “snail fever”, causes as many as 200,000 deaths a year, according to research published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2000. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter And yet, these freshwater menaces aren’t the only grim reapers of the mollusc family – cone snails can administer a venom that’s so toxic, it can kill up to 700 people. The problem is, it doesn’t look like your typical sea predator: no glistening set of razor-sharp teeth, and no tell-tale fin. Instead, its lethal sting is concealed within its sleek brown and white patterned shell, and shoots out like a harpoon when its prey is near. This means that to the unsuspecting onlooker, the cone is just a pretty little beach ornament. And this is precisely what one Reddit user's parents thought when they chanced upon one while on holiday. The Redditor shared a video to the platform, presumably sent to him by his mum and dad, which he captioned: “Parents wanted to show the cool snail they found while on a vacation to Egypt." Reddit - Dive into anything from OopsThatsDeadly Commentators were quick to point out the identity of the deceptively deadly creature. “I saw these in a nature doc once and they have forever haunted my dreams since,” one wrote. “I struggled to keep my eyes on the video because I thought for sure it would start sticking its barb out when they messed with it,” admitted another. “Very patient snail,” added a third. “They're even sticking their fingers in its house and everything. Could've ended them.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-06-06 20:28
South Korea’s Early Trade Data Indicate Export Gloom Continues
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2023-08-21 08:47
German chip charge could short-circuit on myriad challenges
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2023-05-24 11:27
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2023-09-05 12:19
Australia star Sam Kerr ruled out of Women’s World Cup opener after injury blow
Australia star Sam Kerr has been ruled out of her country’s first two matches at the Women’s World Cup in what is a huge blow to the tournament co-hosts. The Chelsea striker suffered a calf injury in training the day before the start of the tournament. Australia play their opening match against the Republic of Ireland in Sydney on Thursday night, while Kerr has also been ruled out of their Group B clash with Nigeria next week. The 29-year-old, who is the face of this year’s Women’s World Cup, will be assessed before Australia’s final group game against Olympic champions Canada. A statement from the Matildas confirmed the news an hour before their opening match. “Sam Kerr is unavailable tonight after she picked up a calf injury at training [on Wednesday]. “Sam will be unavailable for the next two matches with the Matildas Medical Team to re-assess her following our second group stage match.” "Unfortunately I sustained a calf injury yesterday in training,” Kerr said in a statement. “I wanted to share this with everyone so there is no distraction from us doing what we came here to achieve. “Of course I would have loved to have been out there tonight but I can’t wait to be a part of this amazing journey which starts now.” Australia play their opening match of the World Cup in front of what is expected to be a record-breaking crowd at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, while Ireland will be making their first appearance at the tournament. Read More Women’s World Cup 2023 LIVE: New Zealand open tournament against Norway before Australia host Ireland England World Cup Fixtures: Full Lionesses schedule and route to the final How to watch every Women’s World Cup match on TV
2023-07-20 17:27
South Africa clings on 22-21 against Argentina to end the Rugby Championship
Argentina came within a whisker of another big upset by forcing South Africa to cling on for a 22-21 victory to end the Rugby Championship
2023-07-30 03:19
'Emotional' Elton John closes out Glastonbury festival
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2023-06-26 05:45
Niger’s coup leaders say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for 'high treason'
Niger’s mutinous soldiers say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security, hours after they said they were open to dialogue with West African nations to resolve the mounting regional crisis. The announcement on state television on Sunday night, by spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, said the military regime had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger.” Bazoum, Niger’s democratically elected president, was ousted by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has since been under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in the capital, Niamey. People close to the president as well as those in his ruling party say their electricity and water have been cut off and they’re running out of food. The junta dismissed these reports Sunday night and accused West African politicians and international partners of fueling a disinformation campaign to discredit the junta. International pressure is growing on the junta to release and reinstate Bazoum. Immediately after the coup, the West African regional bloc ECOWAS gave the regime seven days to return him to power or threatened military force, but that deadline came and went with no action from either side. Last week, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a “standby” force, but it’s still unclear when or if it would enter the country.
2023-08-14 14:22
Who is Richard Tobin? Rachel Morin’s boyfriend says he's innocent after she was found dead on Bel Air trail
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2023-08-07 18:20
Pain and terror felt by passengers before Boeing Max crashed can be considered, judge rules
A federal judge is ruling that families of passengers who died in the second crash of a Boeing 737 Max can seek damages for the pain and terror suffered by their relatives before the plane crashed in Ethiopia
2023-06-01 00:46
Megan Fox's co-star Tyson Ritter claims Machine Gun Kelly 'went ballistic' over suggestive scene in 'Johnny & Clyde'
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2023-05-31 15:21
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