Soccer News of Monday, 12 May 2025
Source: www.ghanawebbers.com
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, an English-born Ghanaian forward, played in Sheffield United's 3-0 win over Bristol City. He came off the bench during the match. The on-loan Crystal Palace attacker has scored seven goals and made two assists this season. He has appeared in 35 matches for the Blades.
Sheffield United advanced to the Championship play-off final with a 6-0 aggregate win over Bristol City. They won the first leg 3-0 at Ashton Gate. The team started slowly but took the lead when Kieffer Moore headed in a corner kick from Harrison Burrows before halftime.
Gus Hamer then increased their lead with a deflected long-range shot. Substitute Callum O'Hare scored the sixth goal of the semi-final. Chris Wilder's team will face either Sunderland or Coventry City in the play-off final at Wembley on Saturday, May 24.
This victory marks a record scoreline for a play-off semi-final at this level. The team that finished third in the regular season has reached the Championship play-off final nine times in the last ten seasons.
Sheffield United faced relegation from the Premier League last season but had a strong campaign this year. They led the league going into their final seven games but suffered four defeats in five matches during April, finishing third and entering the playoffs.
In the semi-final first leg, Rob Dickie's red card allowed Burrows to score from a penalty kick before halftime. Substitutes Andre Brooks and O'Hare also added goals for Bristol City.
City needed to overcome a three-goal deficit from losing at home, which no team has done before in playoff history. They started well, but Scott Twine missed their best chance.
United gained momentum and scored first when Moore headed in from a corner kick. Goalkeeper Max O'Leary could not reach it, ending any faint hopes for Liam Manning's side.
The second goal highlighted City's struggles; they lost possession and failed to mark Hamer properly at the edge of the area. His shot took a big deflection into the far corner.
O'Hare scored his second goal of this tie after Burrows assisted him again by stepping over Tyrese Campbell's low cross into the penalty area.
Sheffield United has lost all nine of their previous playoff campaigns and aims to break that streak next Saturday.