86th minute Carter heads home a great Thomas corner - just far enough out for Ethan to not come for it, headed to hard and far away for Ethan to have a real chance. 1-1, and the stadium is now going crazy.
After another corner, loose ball at the top of the box absolutely crushed off the bottom of the crossbar by Szmodics. Would have been a simply incredible ending, but we're still even.
Full time. Horvath oddly little to do given the intensity of the match combined with Blackburn's desperation and possession advantage. Luton draw a match they care relatively little about.
Horvath and Lynden Gooch both starting the second leg of the promotion playoff. Luton return home in a 2-1 aggregate hole after Sunderland took care of business at home. With Luton probably the somewhat better side, Luton at home, and extremely high stakes, this has the potential to be exceptionally intense. Although the promotion reward for either Horvath or Gooch could be "look at this great new guy at your position we just signed," these playoffs will be among the most important games in the career of each.
I'm potentially taking crazy pills, but it almost seems like Gooch is taking a page from US Soccer's favorite Gooch and playing LCB.
The Champions League is for suckers. Championship playoff semifinals are for the more enlightened among us.
Gooch does well to prevent a shot at the top of the box, forcing a pass at wide, and then makes a quick adjustment to block a cross rolled across the six. Luton score on the ensuing corner, however, and we're 1-0 / 2-2 aggregate. Osho finishes it off, Gooch not nearby.
This formation might be a 4-4-2, but if it is, the right back Roberts is going forward while Gooch hasnot, and it is playing more like a 3-5-2. They have injuries, but I didn't have "Gooch as an LCB" on my bingo card.
Sunderland almost score on a corner themselves - great reaction save by Horvath to keep it from going inside the near post. Handball claims right after, but no luck for Sunderland.
Horvath quickly off of his line to prevent conceding a corner. Gooch clipped from behind for no reason at all by Clark, and draws a yellow.
Horvath confirming he's our most in-form keeper abroad. Controls his area well, commands his defenders. Luton counter almost ends in another goal.
Amazing save by Patterson during a FK to prevent a Luton goal. Sunderland lacks bite, each Luton attack looks lethal,
Gooch's first real forward foray, tries to slip through a few guys at the corner of the box, winds up fouling someone. At least he got forward for once - not today's game plan, it seems.
Captain Gooch has been a lock on the left, they have been coming through Roberts side. No idea who can score for S'land, all their regular goalscorers are out injured.