Summary

  • Coventry win competition for first time

  • Gael Bigirimana gave Coventry a 12th-minute lead

  • George Thomas made it 2-0 with superb shot

  • Sub Liam Sercombe pulled goal back for U's

  1. Coventry win the EFL Trophypublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 2 April 2017

    FT: Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    Thanks for your company today, on a day that Wembley turned sky blue.

    A Coventry side destined for League Two produced a stirring display to inflict a second successive EFL Trophy final defeat on Oxford United.

    If you missed any of the action, catch up on Coventry's victory with our match report...

    EFL Trophy final: Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    George Thomas's stunning strike helps Coventry put their relegation fears to one side to beat Oxford in the EFL Trophy final.

    Read More
  2. Postpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 2 April 2017

    FT: Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    I'm sure the celebrations will go on long into the night in Coventry.

    Coventry fans haven't had much to cheer about this season, or for the past few seasons for that matter.

    But today is their day.

  3. Coventry lift the trophypublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 2 April 2017

    FT: Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    Coventry's players make their way up the famous Wembley steps, with Jordan Willis first up.

    The Sky Blues skipper lifts the trophy, to huge cheers from the 43,000 or so Coventry fans who have made the trip to North London today.

  4. Match reactionpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 2 April 2017

    FT: Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    Coventry winger Kyel Reid tells Sky Sports: "This means a lot to me. It's not been the best season in the league, but to come here with 43,000 fans is great and I'm so happy for everyone involved with the club."

    Striker Stuart Beavon: "I'm absolutely delighted to come here and win. We dug in, showed great determination and deserved the win in the end."

  5. Match reactionpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 2 April 2017

    FT: Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    Coventry goalscorer Gael Bigirimana tells Sky Sports: "I've got a beautiful baby girl, which is amazing, and this is the icing on the cake. It's just amazing. Hopefully this will be a game changer for this club.

    Goalscorer George Thomas: "Words can't explain this. You couldn't write it. The season's been full of ups and downs, and to more or less end it on this - I don't have the words."

    George ThomasImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 2 April 2017

    FT: Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    In a season of utter turmoil, Coventry City have - at last - something to smile about.

    They're surely heading down to League Two, but they have a shiny new trophy to take back home.

    Gael Bigirimana, a new father yesterday, scored their first and he's in tears.  

    Reaction and the presentations on the way.

  7. FULL-TIMEpublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 2 April 2017
    Breaking

    Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    Coventry CityImage source, Getty Images

    Coventry City have done it! They've won the Checkatrade Trophy!

  8. Postpublished at 90+4 mins

    Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    The ball drops in the box for Oxford's Rob Hall - corner.

    The keeper's gone up...

    And how have Coventry survived?!

    Pinball in the six-yard box, Lee Burge makes a stunning save and there's a goalline clearance in there too.

    Incredible stuff.

  9. Postpublished at 90+2 mins

    Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    Oxford are forced into a late change as the injured Joe Rothwell goes off for Josh Ruffels.

    We're into a minimum of five minutes of stoppage time and Oxford have sent centre-back Curtis Nelson forward as an emergency striker.

    It's now-or-never time.

  10. Postpublished at 89 mins

    Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    If Coventry fans have got any nails left to bite, start chewing them now. A minute and stoppage time left to play.

  11. Postpublished at 87 mins

    Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    The game is becoming stretched now, as Oxford pile more and more players forward in search of an equaliser and Coventry look to catch them on the break.

    Oxford goalscorer Liam Sercombe is booked for a tackle on Kyel Reid, who stays down and needs some treatment before returning.

  12. Postpublished at 85 mins

    Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    There are 74.434 people at today's game, making this the largest attendance for an EFL Trophy final at the rebuilt Wembley.

  13. Postpublished at 82 mins

    Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    Gael Bigirimana's a lucky boy.

    The Coventry midfielder, booked in the first half, brings down an Oxford player to stop a breakaway attack.

    He's very fortunate to escape a second yellow card.

    George Thomas, the scorer of Coventry's stunning second goal, is off to be replaced by Jodi Jones.

  14. Postpublished at 79 mins

    Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    What a chance for Oxford!

    The U's break and Rob Hall goes through one-on-one with Coventry goalkeeper Lee Burge, who keeps his side in front with a smart save.

    In truth, Hall should have done a lot better. Will Oxford get a better opportunity than that?

  15. Sercombe gives Oxford hopepublished at 75 mins

    Coventry 2-1 Oxford

    Oooh, now we're in for a cracking finish at Wembley!

    Coventry clear the ball to the edge of the box to Liam Sercombe and the U's sub fires in a shot through a crowd of players, which nestles in the corner.

    Game on.

  16. goal

    GOAL: Coventry 2-1 Oxfordpublished at 75 mins

    Liam Sercombe

  17. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Coventry 2-0 Oxford

    Oxford get a free-kick in a decent position on their left, and it's a rare chance for Chris Maguire to test goalkeeper Lee Burge.

    Maguire, a set-piece specialist, whips it towards the near post but Burge is equal to the task and pushes it over for an Oxford corner, which Coventry see out without alarm.

  18. Postpublished at 71 mins

    Coventry 2-0 Oxford

    There seem to be sky blue and white shirts dotted around the Coventry penalty area, all throwing themselves in the way of shots and passes, trying to prevent Oxford getting anywhere near their goal.

    They're 20 minutes and stoppage time away from an unlikely Wembley victory.

  19. Postpublished at 69 mins

    Coventry 2-0 Oxford

    Ged Scott
    BBC Sport at Wembley

    It still seems wrong somehow to hear a club of Coventry City's stature referred to as underdogs in a game against Oxford United, but there's no doubt that another Wembley upset to match their slaying of Spurs 30 years ago is now on the cards.

    And, although nothing will probably ever top Keith Houchen's famous headed equaliser in 1987, George Thomas's moment of magic would rank with any of Wembley's great goals.

    A superb first touch as he pulled down Kyel Reid's left-wing cross followed by a tracer missile of a right-footed half-volley, with pinpoint accuracy, just inside Simon Eastwood's right post. What a stunner!

  20. Postpublished at 65 mins

    Coventry 2-0 Oxford

    Mark RobinsImage source, Getty Images

    What a story it is that's developing at Wembley.

    Coventry City are a club in turmoil, with fans making continued protests against their owners and the team almost certain to drop into League Two.

    But they're less than half an hour away from a piece of silverware.

    Their manager, Mark Robins, is Coventry's fourth of the season. He wasn't even in charge when the Sky Blues qualified for the final!