League Two play-off semi-final second leg: MK Dons 1-5 Crawley Town
Crawley win 8-1 on aggregate to reach Wembley for the first time in their history
They will play Crewe Alexandra on Sunday, 19 May for a place in League One
Danilo Orsi scores a hat-trick with Jay Williams and Jack Roles also on the scoresheet for Crawley
Max Dean pulls a goal back for MK Dons but has a second-half penalty kick saved by Corey Addai
(Danilo Orsi 48 mins)
And again, Crawley score right at the start of the half!
It's a second of the night for Danilo Orsi and as straightforward a goal as he'll ever score, tapping in after Klaidi Lolos and Liam Kelly carved through the MK Dons defence.
Kelly squares the ball for Orsi to tuck away with not a Dons defender in sight - and Crawley, incredibly, are 6-1 up on aggregate.
MK Dons 1-2 Crawley (aggregate 1-5)
A change apiece for each side at the interval, with MK Dons sending on striker Ellis Harrison in place of Lewis Bate.
Crawley have made their second substitution, with Will Wright - who took a knock late in the first period - not reappearing and Joy Mukena replaces him.
HT: MK Dons 1-2 Crawley (aggregate 1-5)
Dave Challinor
Manager of Stockport County on Sky Sports
The control out of possession from Crawley - they are dictating what happens.
Max Dean is a fractionally lucky boy [to not get sent off]. There's a moment where he thinks about putting pressure on it then thinks better of it.
MK Dons 1-2 Crawley (aggregate 1-5)
It was a memorable day at Wembley Stadium for Mike Williamson's old club Gateshead, who triumphed on penalties against Solihull Moors to lift the FA Trophy.
Can the MK Dons boss inspire a dramatic fightback from his team in the next 45 minutes and take them to Wembley next weekend?
Four goals needed (minimum)...
(Aggregate 1-5)
Image source, Harriet Lander/Getty ImagesAnd there we are - a lively end to the first half, with Max Dean pulling one back for MK Dons.
Jack Tucker, who assisted his goal, was then called into action at the other end to clear off the line and Crawley remain 2-1 up on the night.
Still a massive ask for MK Dons to retrieve a four-goal deficit, but stranger things have happened in the play-offs...
MK Dons 1-2 Crawley (aggregate 1-5)
Andy Hinchcliffe
Co-commentator on Sky Sports
For the first time in the half, Crawley switch off. They go to sleep, they just stop.
It's a major step forward for MK Dons.
How often do you see a player that should have been sent off score a goal? But Max Dean will have to score a hat-trick at least to get his team back in this.
(Max Dean 45 mins)
Image source, Harriet Lander/Getty ImagesGreat time to score, just before half-time - has Max Dean given MK Dons something to work with?
Dean tucks the ball away from close range after Joe Tomlinson whips a free-kick into the box and Jack Tucker turns it back at the far post for the striker to finish.
MK Dons 0-2 Crawley (aggregate 0-5)
Crawley are forced into a change as we approach half-time, with Harry Forster going to ground with what looked like some kind of muscle strain and then leaving the field very gingerly.
Kellan Gordon comes on to play his part in what's promising to be a memorable night for Crawley Town.
MK Dons 0-2 Crawley (aggregate 0-5)
Joe Tomlinson has provided a threat down the Dons' left flank and he tests Corey Addai again, cutting infield and thumping a shot that the Crawley goalkeeper pushes clear.
The visitors were down to 10 men at that stage, with Klaidi Lolos off the field receiving treatment for a shoulder injury but he's back on now as Crawley maintain their stranglehold on this tie.
MK Dons 0-2 Crawley (aggregate 0-5)
Andy Hinchcliffe
Co-commentator on Sky Sports
It's no more than Crawley deserved. Half an hour of outstanding football.
Do not underestimate that run from Adam Campbell as well. It just lures the defenders away.
(Danilo Orsi 30 mins)
Image source, Michael Zemanek/ShutterstockAnd just as MK Dons looked as though they might be getting back into this...
Crawley's pressing has been superb and Danilo Orsi reaps the rewards of closing down Dan Harvie here - he nicks the ball off him, steadies himself and slots low into the net.
It's a 20th league goal of the campaign for Orsi and the visitors now lead 5-0 on aggregate.
MK Dons 0-1 Crawley (aggregate 0-4)
This is more encouraging for the home side.
Max Dean closes down Corey Addai and his clearance goes straight to Alex Gilbey, who hits it first time but doesn't get hold of the ball properly and it's an easy stop for the Crawley keeper.
More of a sting to Addai's gloves a minute later as he dives to push away a well-struck effort from Joe Tomlinson.
MK Dons 0-1 Crawley (aggregate 0-4)
Well, perhaps winning the first corner of the game is a step in the right direction for MK Dons.
Joe Tomlinson gets forward on the left and his cross is deflected behind - but unfortunately they don't manage to do much with the set-piece.
Still three quarters of the game left, but Crawley must already be visualising the Wembley arch at this stage.
MK Dons 0-1 Crawley (aggregate 0-4)
Andy Hinchcliffe
Co-commentator on Sky Sports
Crawley have been excellent. How quickly once they are off the ball do they just snap back into shape?
It's hard for MK Dons to break through them.
MK Dons 0-1 Crawley (aggregate 0-4)
All going perfectly from a Crawley perspective so far.
Adam Campbell is looking dangerous whenever the visitors get a sniff of possession on that left-hand side and Klaidi Lolos is seeing plenty of the ball inside the Dons half too.
Crawley keeper Corey Addai hasn't had anything to do other than act as sweeper now and then. Major improvement needed from the Dons if they're to find a way back into this tie.
MK Dons 0-1 Crawley (aggregate 0-4)
Andy Hinchcliffe
Co-commentator on Sky Sports
Max Dean not being sent off is a massive let off for MK Dons.
Stepping on his man there, Dean. He takes a step, turns around and steps on him.
The referee has just turned his back so he wouldn't have seen it. Dean and MK Dons are incredibly fortunate.
MK Dons 0-1 Crawley (aggregate 0-4)
Mistakes aplenty from MK Dons, who look rattled by that early Jay Williams strike.
Crawley are bossing this in midfield and Max Dean in particular is showing signs of frustration.
The Dons striker just left his foot in after a challenge with Williams and he's perhaps fortunate to escape sanction for that.
MK Dons 0-1 Crawley (aggregate 0-4)
Not an easy chance, but that might have been 2-0 on the night to Crawley.
Harry Forster scoops the ball into the box for Danilo Orsi, who tries to shoot on the volley and snatches it wide. Crawley are sensing a chance to put this to bed early...
MK Dons 0-1 Crawley (aggregate 0-4)
Andy Hinchcliffe
Co-commentator on Sky Sports
It's a hammer blow for MK Dons.
Crawley get the all important first goal. The press from the midfielder is outstanding and the keeper can't do anything.
What a start for Crawley!
(Jay Williams 3 mins)
Image source, Joe Toth/ShutterstockDream start for Crawley!
Playing out from the back goes horribly awry for the Dons as Jay Williams closes down his man quickly, advances and slots low beyond Filip Marschall.
So, the home side now need four goals just to draw level in the tie.
Crawley Town's 8-1 aggregate victory over MK Dons is the biggest in EFL play-off history
Danilo Orsi scored a hat-trick as Crawley Town demolished Milton Keynes Dons to secure a place in the League Two play-off final and the club’s first-ever visit to Wembley.
Leading 3-0 from a superb win in a one-sided first leg, Crawley, who will play Crewe Alexandra on Sunday, 19 May for a place in League One, opened up a five-goal aggregate lead with first-half strikes from Jay Williams and Orsi.
Max Dean scored for MK Dons just before half-time, but Orsi struck again early in the second half.
Dean had a penalty kick saved by keeper Corey Addai before Jack Roles netted and Orsi completed the rout.
Their semi-final humbling means MK Dons have now competed in the play-offs six times without reaching a final.
Boss Mike Williamson insisted “nothing is irreversible” after his team’s heavy first-leg defeat and that they were capable of winning the tie.
However, they produced another horror show and conceded after just three minutes.
The goal came after the hosts were caught trying to play the ball out from the back.
Having robbed Alex Gilbey as he tried to collect a pass from Jack Tucker, Williams fired past keeper Filip Marschall from the edge of the penalty area.
Worse followed for MK Dons on the hour mark - again after an error at the back.
Crawley closed down and won possession once more, and after Dan Harvie misjudged the bounce of the ball, Orsi nipped in front of him and finished emphatically.
Williamson’s side pulled one back in first-half stoppage time. Jack Payne’s free-kick from the left was nudged back across goal by Tucker to Dean, who had a simple close-range finish.
The goal was Dean’s 19th of the season and he was arguably fortunate to still be on the pitch, having earlier appeared to stamp on Williams.
Three minutes into the second half, Crawley’s five-goal cushion was restored.
Again they scored after stealing possession. Liam Kelly seized the ball in midfield and continued into the box where he collected a return pass from Klaidi Lolos, drew Marschall from his line and, rather than shoot, opted to tee up Orsi for a tap-in.
When Kelly handled while blocking Ellis Harrison’s cross, the resulting penalty gave Dean a chance to reduce the deficit again and reach the 20-goal mark, but Addai dived to his right to save the spot-kick.
Crawley were relentless and Roles had a long-range strike pushed against the post by Marschall before scoring late on.
After evading two challenges to set up Orsi, Roles pounced on the loose ball after his team-mate was tackled and thumped it into the bottom corner.
And in stoppage time, Ronan Darcy found space on the left, collected Nick Tsaroulla’s pass and crossed for Orsi to complete his hat-trick.
Danilo Orsi (left) was outstanding on a historic night for Crawley Town
This is Crawley's first-ever appearance in the play-offs and they almost did not make it.
The Red Devils, widely tipped to struggle against relegation this season, were outside the top seven going into the final round of fixtures, but their 2-0 final-day victory over Grimsby enabled them to overtake Barrow, who were held to a 1-1 draw against Mansfield.
Now they have the opportunity to return to the third tier for the first time since 2015.
MK Dons boss Mike Williamson told BBC Three Counties Radio:
“I think that was probably the hardest football match I’ve ever had to watch.
“We’ve come up short, so there’s a lot for me to digest right now and I’m not going to measure our season since coming in on two games. It’s important to keep perspective. But right now the emotions are very raw and the lads are hurting.
“We’ve got to come back in preseason focused. We have a lot of work to do and we’re prepared to do that.
“We lost our shape and got ragged against a very good team. We’ve got to make sure that we’ve got more than that next year.
“We’re all hurting. The lads have given everything and we’ve come up short - and that’s only going to fuel and motivate us.
“The bigger the fall the harder you want to come back. I’m very confident we can achieve that."
Crawley manager Scott Lindsey speaking to Sky Sports:
"We came into this game really humble and really respectful.
"We kept our feet firmly into the ground. We were outstanding - aggressive with the press, aggressive with the ball. I thought we were brilliant.
"As a manager, you know how football can be. It's got a habit of kicking you when you're down so you never relax until that final whistle.
"When I look at all the players we've brought in, a lot of them are non-league. Liam Kelly got relegated last season with Rochdale. What a player.
"The players were unbelievable tonight. We will recover tomorrow and be back in on Monday. We will be getting to work, nothing will change with our preparation.
"We are really looking forward to it."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46 | 27 | 11 | 8 | 96 | 48 | 48 | 92 |
| |
| 2 | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 89 | 52 | 37 | 88 |
| |
| 3 | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 90 | 47 | 43 | 86 |
| |
| 4 | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 83 | 68 | 15 | 78 |
| |
| 5 | 46 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 68 | 5 | 71 |
| |
| 6 | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 69 | 65 | 4 | 71 |
| |
| 7 | 46 | 21 | 7 | 18 | 73 | 67 | 6 | 70 |
| |
| 8 | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 62 | 56 | 6 | 69 |
| |
| 9 | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 61 | 59 | 2 | 69 |
| |
| 10 | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 64 | 51 | 13 | 65 |
| |
| 11 | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 69 | 73 | -4 | 65 |
| |
| 12 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 46 | 57 | -11 | 64 |
| |
| 13 | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 60 | 69 | -9 | 63 |
| |
| 14 | 46 | 18 | 7 | 21 | 89 | 86 | 3 | 61 |
| |
| 15 | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 67 | 81 | -14 | 58 |
| |
| 16 | 46 | 17 | 6 | 23 | 67 | 70 | -3 | 57 |
| |
| 17 | 46 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 63 | 71 | -8 | 57 |
| |
| 18 | 46 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 62 | 76 | -14 | 55 |
| |
| 19 | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 77 | 83 | -6 | 54 |
| |
| 20 | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 66 | 82 | -16 | 51 |
| |
| 21 | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 57 | 74 | -17 | 49 |
| |
| 22 | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 59 | 80 | -21 | 45 |
| |
| 23 | 46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 59 | 84 | -25 | 42 |
| |
| 24 | 46 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 44 | 78 | -34 | 42 |
|
Manager: Mike Williamson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Scott Lindsey
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Mike Williamson
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Scott Lindsey
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
League Two
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
All three meetings between MK Dons and Crawley Town in 2023-24 so far have come as home wins, with MK Dons winning 2-0 at home back in December.
Crawley Town have lost each of their last three away games against MK Dons, failing to score a single goal during that time.
MK Dons won 12 of their last 17 home league games this season (D3 L2), scoring 3+ goals in five of their last six such matches.
Crawley Town won nine of their last 14 away league games this season (D1 L4), the same amount as they managed across their prior 49 such matches combined. The Red Devils’ 10 away wins this season is their most ever in a single EFL campaign, as they look to become the first side since Coventry City in 2017-18 to gain promotion during their first ever play-offs appearance.
MK Dons are looking to become only the second side to overturn a 3+ goal loss from the first leg of the play-off semi finals, after Sheffield Wednesday lost 4-0 to Peterborough United last season before advancing via a penalty shoot-out to the final.
Since the beginning of 2024, Crawley Town are the only League Two side to have two players that have scored 10+ goals in the competition (Klaidi Lolos and Danilo Orsi – both 10). Of the eight players to hit double figures in that time frame in the division, Orsi holds the best conversion rate (28.6%).
