2001 Football League Second Division play-off Final
The 2001 Football League Second Division play-off Final was contested by Walsall and Reading. It was the first season that the play-off finals were contested at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium following the demolition of Wembley Stadium.
Event | 2000–01 Football League Second Division | ||||||
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After extra time | |||||||
Date | 27 May 2001 | ||||||
Venue | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | ||||||
Referee | E. K. Wolstenholme | ||||||
Attendance | 50,496 | ||||||
Route to the final
Match
Summary
Reading scored the opening goal from a throw in. Jamie Cureton's volley crept in underneath Walsall goalkeeper Jimmy Walker. Don Goodman scored the leveler for Walsall just after half-time to take the game into extra-time.
Reading made a storming start to extra-time with, ex-Walsall striker, Martin Butler scoring a header inside the first 2 minutes. A treble substitution by Walsall manager Ray Graydon on 98 minutes changed the game. Walsall's Dean Keates forced an own-goal by Reading's Tony Rougier on 107 minutes. Walsall nicked it 2 minutes later virtue of a stunning turn and shot from substitute Darren Byfield.
Details
Walsall | 3–2 | Reading |
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Goodman Rougier Byfield |
Report | Cureton Butler |
Walsall
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Reading
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Match rules:
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