Late Rhodes goal sends Huddersfield to Wembley final after win over Luton

Jordan Rhodes came off the bench to score his fourth and most significant goal of the season to send Huddersfield into the Championship playoff final at Luton’s expense.

Huddersfield were lucky to still be in the game when Rhodes poked home a free-kick with eight minutes to go to edge the tie but what matters in football is taking chances and, despite a barren season, the 32-year-old striker still knows how to get things done when it matters, a trait Luton lacked.

A combination of flares, flags and clappers created the atmosphere at the John Smith’s Stadium. The home fans behind one goal spent the minutes prior to kick-off shaking the stand’s foundations in an attempt to intimidate the Luton supporters next to them.

Luton should have taken the lead in the 11th minute when Kal Naismith drifted into space on the left and sent a low cross into the box for Harry Cornick to tap home but he sidefooted the ball from six yards straight at Lee Nicholls, much to the relief of the majority in the ground.

Unlike many playoff semi-finals, there was little caution shown by either side. Huddersfield looked to play with great intensity to get through Luton, while the visitors’ pressing was causing problems for the hosts when they attempted to play out from the back. Luton moved the Huddersfield defence around to create gaps in wide areas. Robert Snodgrass took advantage to cut in from the right and curl a shot towards the corner which Nicholls palmed straight out to Amari’i Bell who could only jab the rebound wide.

The game became frenetic with neither team able to maintain possession. Luton looked the more dangerous, however, with James Bree becoming the latest in orange to test Nicholls, who palmed away his shot from the edge of the