Twenty-one years later, Charlton Athletic (3rd place, 88 points) and AFC Sunderland (5th place, 85 points) meet again in a play-off final at Wembley. On May 25, 1998, the best and most spectacular Ascension Final of all time took place. It was 4: 4 at that time after extra time, before Charlton rose thanks to penalties in the Premier League. The team of “Addicks” coach Alan Curbishley was then ten million pounds. Today, a rise in the Premier League in the first season is worth 170 million pounds. Of these, Charlton and Sunderland are at least one more season away. On Sunday afternoon (live on Dazn and Sky Sports England), it’s “only” about promotion to the championship. While the “Black Cats” are aiming for direct return, the “Addicks” are hoping to leave League One after three years. There is no clear favorite in the final. This show between Charlton and Sunderland all odds of various bookmakers.
Charlton reached the final despite the first home defeat since October and previously 17 unbeaten home games against Doncaster on penalties. Sunderland, meanwhile, secured their entry into the promotion final away to Portsmouth thanks to the 20th draw of this League One season. Although it should not be as entertaining as 1998, nevertheless recommends at Charlton against Sunderland our forecast a tip on “BTS”. The fifth in the regular season last time in 2006 won a playoff final (Barnsley) and managed since 1987, the least total (five times) promotion to the playoffs. As a third in the table but celebrated in the past eight seasons only Preston (2015) the rise.
Charlton:
Eight years Premier League experienced the club from the South East of London between 1998 and 2007 – seven of them in a row. Meanwhile, the “Addicks” have spent six of their last ten seasons in third-rate League One. If Charlton failed last season in the playoff semi-final to Shrewsbury, could now be booked the final ticket in Wembley before 25.428 spectators – which the Valley was sold out for the first time since 2012.
Wachgeküsst has coached the club from the working class Lee Bowyer. The former Premier League pro of Leeds and Newcastle, who once started his playing career at Charlton, led the club twice in the playoffs in just 67 games and has now reached the first promotion finals in the past 21 years. This makes Charlton one of eleven clubs that played both in old Wembley and in the new. As a player, Bowyer faced Birmingham City in a Wembley final in 2011 and won the League Cup against Arsenal.
The 42-year-old also wants to keep this 100-percent record on Saturday. Bowyer has managed to reunite the team with the fans, after it remains in the environment continues to unrest against the unloved Belgian club owner Roland Duchatelet. The “Addicks” travel to Wembley (11-4-2) with only two defeats from the past 17 games and have played zero in seven of the past eleven league games. Torgefahr will once again be joined by Lyle Taylor, who scored 25 goals for Charlton in his first season. Last 25 goals for the “Addicks” scored Andy Hunt in 1999/00. Clive Mendonca scored more than 25 goals in his debut season for London in 1997/98 with 28 – the hat-trick hero of the final of 21 years ago. A good omen? We go to Charlton vs. Sunderland in our forecast assumes that both teams will meet.
Sunderland:
Sunderland clinched their second win of the season in Wembley for the second time this season in a competitive game on the English South Coast (the ninth overall). At the end of March, the Black Cats lost the Checkatrade Trophy final on penalties against Portsmouth to more than 80,000 spectators. Thus, Sunderland continues to wait for the FA Cup final in 1973 against Leeds on the first victory in Wembley. Since then there has been a draw and five defeats. The previously only match at the new Wembley Stadium lost to Man City in 2014 (1: 3, League Cup Final). On Sunday, the men of coach Jack Ross want to celebrate the direct return to the championship. It would be after two descents in twelve months and the first third league season for 30 years, finally, a real sense of achievement for the long-suffering fans of Sunderland. The relegation from the Championship Netflix had accompanied close up and can be accessed as a series under the title “Sunderland Til I Die”. Between Charlton and Sunderland, however, bookmakers’ odds do not indicate a favorite and expect a balanced game.
The form of Sunderland is currently not really intoxicating despite the final move. In the past six League One games succeeded only one win (1-3-2). This, however, finally enough to prevail against Portsmouth can. Overall, Sunderland celebrated only two wins from the last nine league matches (2-4-3). Previously, the Black Cats remained undefeated in 19 League One games between Boxing Day (26 December) and 9 April, but drew ten wins (nine wins), missing out on their intended direct promotion in the season-ending spurt , The last playoff participation of the “Black Cats” is like the Wembley statistics also no encouragement. In 2004, Sunderland lost the championship playoff semi-final against Crystal Palace. Sunderland won 13 away games in all competitions this season. More successes in foreign countries were the last time to cheer in 1998/99 under coach Peter Reid (15). The third best offensive (80 goals) of the regular season had no problems with scoring goals. Therefore, at Charlton vs. Sunderland our forecast the tip “BTS”.
PREDICTION: Under 2,5 goals @ 1,68
