Bradford City 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers: Visitors strike late to reach EFL Trophy final
- Published
Matt Butcher's late winner sent the Chairboys through to Wembley
Substitute Matt Butcher scored his first goal for Wycombe to send his side into the EFL Trophy final as they stole victory in stoppage time at Bradford.
The hosts were by far the better team but could not find a breakthrough as the game looked set to go to penalties.
But Wycombe found a late chance as Butcher took a cross down from the right and sent a sweet skudding half-volley into the bottom right corner.
They will play Peterborough in the final at Wembley on Sunday 7 April.
It was not until the 80th minute that Wycombe managed a shot on target when Gareth McCleary's header was well saved by Bradford goalkeeper Colin Doyle.
But their second chance was enough to see the League One side into their first EFL Trophy final.
The late goal was a sickener for League Two Bradford, who had dominated the game on a very heavy pitch and only went behind once in the competition.
They created the first chance of the game as Tyler Smith made good contact with a half-volley but Max Stryjek saved for Wycombe.
Clarke Odour let fly with a shot from just outside the box that flew inches over the bar before Calum Kavanagh dragged an effort wide from the edge of the penalty area.
After the break, Smith saw a shot from close range well saved, Wycombe's Jack Grimmer scrambled a dangerous ball across the face of goal to safety and Kevin McDonald curled a shot just wide for the home side.
Kavanagh thought he had found the bottom corner shortly after but Stryjek tipped the shot around the post at full stretch.
Bradford's frustration then turned to devastation at the death as Wycombe's defensive effort was rewarded with a winning goal.
Wycombe manager Matt Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"It's the stuff dreams are made of. I was into my 30s before I got to Wembley and managed to go twice so to now go as a manager, I feel extremely fortunate.
"You have to take the rough with the smooth in this game so nights like tonight you have to enjoy.
"I knew they would be more used to the pitch than us and we didn't perform to our levels but we defended well and came up with a great moment at the end."