MK Dons win 5-4 on penalties Swansea's Jason Scotland suffered mixed fortunes from the spot |
Jason Scotland was first Swansea's penalty hero then villain as MK Dons won through to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final after a penalty shoot-out. Dons had won the first leg in Swansea 1-0, but Scotland levelled the tie from the spot on 20 minutes after Keith Andrews brought down Andy Robinson.
Both sides wasted good chances and the aggregate remained deadlocked at 1-1.
Cruelly only Scotland failed in the shoot-out, as Dons goalkeeper Willy Gueret guessed right with a fine save.
Having now triumphed in this southern area showdown, the Dons will face either Morecambe or Grimsby in the final at Wembley on 30 March.
Gueret had been superb in the first leg at the Liberty Stadium last week when Dons won 1-0, but could do nothing to stop his former club gaining parity at Stadium MK.
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Striker Scotland and Robinson combined with a clever one-two and as the midfielder charged into the Dons box he was clipped by Andrews.
Referee Andy D'Urso pointed to the spot and Scotland sent Gueret the wrong way for his 20th goal of the season.
If the League One leaders thought a winner was only a matter of time they were rocked back by a determined MK Dons assault, the League Two front-runners led by the excellent Jemal Johnson.
Only a brave defensive block by Gary Monk denied Johnson, although at the other end Gueret had to save smartly from Febian Brandy before the break.
Both sides had chances to win it in a frenetic second half, Swansea's Shaun MacDonald and the Dons' Kevin Gallen both guilty of glaring misses as the 90 minutes ran out.
The penalty shoot-out began with four excellent spot-kicks before Scotland stepped up to take Swansea's third attempt.
The striker picked the same spot as before but Gueret read his double-bluff, flinging himself left to stop Scotland's shot with a strong hand.
No more penalties were missed and to add insult to injury it was substitute striker Drewe Broughton - just back from a loan spell at Swansea's Welsh rivals Wrexham - who kept his cool to smash the Dons into the final with the deciding kick.
Broughton will soon be back in north Wales for another loan spell after Monday night's successful cameo, as Wrexham have been granted their request for his return to help in their relegation fight.
MK Dons: Gueret, Lewington, Diallo (Broughton 84), O'Hanlon, Swailes, Andrews, Cameron (Stirling 80), Dyer, Navarro, Gallen, Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Carbon, Abbey, Baldock.
Booked: Andrews.
Swansea: De Vries, Tate, Monk, Painter (Austin 18), Rangel, Pratley, Robinson, Way, Butler (MacDonald 65), Scotland, Brandy (Duffy 79).
Subs Not Used: O'Leary, Knight.
Booked: Butler, Brandy.
Goals: Scotland 20 pen.
Ref: Andy D'Urso (Essex).
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