The 2019 EFL Trophy Final was a football match played at Wembley Stadium on 31 March 2019. It decided the winners of the 2018–19 EFL Trophy, the 35th edition of the competition, a knock-out tournament for the 48 teams in League One and League Two and 16 category one academy sides.
The Final was contested by League One sides Portsmouth and Sunderland, of which the winner received £100,000 and the Runners-Up received £50,000. This was the first Trophy final pitting two English football champions against each other in 31 years. It was also the first EFL Trophy Final to be contested by two former Premier League clubs.
The Portsmouth team used Wembley's West changing room, while Sunderland used the East. A coin toss decided that Sunderland had first choice on kit selection. This meant Portsmouth played in blue away socks to avoid clashing with Sunderland's first choice red socks.
Portsmouth won the final after coming from one goal behind with English forward Oliver Hawkins scoring the winning penalty kick in the shootout to hand Portsmouth their first cup trophy since the 2008 FA Cup. Portsmouth centre back, Matthew Clarke, was named man of the match. The game was attended by 85,021 people, making it the highest attended match in the UK and the second highest in Europe that weekend. It set a new attendance record for the Football League Trophy, surpassing the 1988 final.
Route to the final
Portsmouth
Sunderland
Match
GK 15 Craig MacGillivrayRB 20 Nathan ThompsonCB 6 Christian BurgessCB 5 Matthew ClarkeLB 3 Lee BrownDM 7 Tom NaylorDM 33 Ben Close RM 10 Jamal Lowe CM 8 Brett Pitman LM 11 Ronan Curtis CF 22 Omar Bogle Substitutes:GK 35 Alex BassDF 38 Brandon Haunstrup DF 2 Anton Walkes MF 26 Gareth Evans MF 30 Adam May FW 32 James VaughanFW 9 Oliver Hawkins Manager: Kenny Jackett GK 1 Jon McLaughlinRB 13 Luke O'NienCB 12 Tom FlanaganCB 15 Jack Baldwin LB 16 Reece James DM 6 Lee Cattermole RM 23 Grant Leadbitter CM 17 Lewis Morgan CM 10 George HoneymanLM 19 Aiden McGeady CF 22 Will Grigg Substitutes:GK 25 Robbin Ruiter DF 30 Jimmy DunneDF 33 Denver Hume MF 8 Dylan McGeouchMF 11 Lynden Gooch MF 27 Max Power FW 9 Charlie Wyke Manager: Jack Ross
References