1998 Football League First Division play-off Final

The 1998 Football League First Division play-off Final was played on 25 May 1998 at Wembley Stadium, London. The match was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion to the Premier League for the 1998–99 season. Sunderland ended their following season as champions of the First Division, amassing a record 105 points, and were promoted to the 1999–2000 Premier League.

About 1998 Football League First Division play-off Final in brief

The 1998 Football League First Division play-off Final was played on 25 May 1998 at Wembley Stadium, London. The match was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion to the Premier League for the 1998–99 season. Clive Mendonca opened the scoring for Charlton before Niall Quinn equalised early in the second. Kevin Phillips then scored his 35th goal of the season to put Sunderland ahead. MendonCA doubled his own tally with fewer than twenty minutes remaining. Nicky Summerbee then gave Sunderland the lead for the third time. Extra time ended 4–4, so the game was determined by a penalty shootout. Both teams scored their first five spot-kicks before the shootout moved to’sudden death’ Michael Gray stepped forward to take Sunderland’s seventh penalty, but his weak strike was saved by the Charlton goalkeeper Saša Ilić and Charlton won 7–6 on penalties. Sunderland ended their following season as champions of the First Division, amassing a record 105 points, and were promoted to the 1999–2000 Premier League. Charlton’s next season saw them finish in eighteenth position, five points from safety, and relegated back to the First League. The top two teams of the 1997–98 Football League first division season gained automatic promotion. The teams placed from third to sixth place in the table took part in play-offs to determine third promoted team. Sunderland had ended the season in third position and Charlon had finished fourth.

The clubs won their semi-finals and competed for the final promotion place. The game was played in front of almost 78,000 spectators and was refereed by Eddie Wolstenholme. The first leg was played at Portman Road in Ipswich on 10 May 1998 and ended in a 1–0 victory for the London club. The second leg was Played three days later at Charlton’s home ground, The Valley, and once again ended in 1-0 victory to the London team. The return leg was played at the Light Stadium of Sunderland three days later and ended 2–1 to the visitors. Sunderland finished one point behind Middlesbrough and four behind league winners Nottingham Forest. The match ended 1–1 and secured Charlton ‘s eighth consecutive clean sheet. Sunderland’s opponents were Sheffield United, the first leg being played at Bramall Lane in Sheffield on 10 May 1998. Marcel Vassiliis scored the winner 14 minutes to go, the return leg ending 2 1 to Sheffield United at the Light Stadium of Sunderland. The game ended 1 0 and secured Charlton’s eighth consecutive clean sheet, and secured their eighth consecutive victory in the match. The third leg of the semi-final was played at Portman Road in Ipswich on 10 May 1998 and ended 2 0 on aggregate. An early own goal from Jamie Clapham decided the ill-disciplined match in which nine yellow cards were shown, including two to Charlton.

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