[h=3]They made it! Ulloa's late strike sends Albion into the play-offs[/h]2:33pm Saturday 3rd May 2014 in Sport By Brian Owen
Leonardo Ulloa roars his delight at scoring the winner (Photo Simon Dack)
Leo Ulloa scored the goal which secured Albion’s play-off place in extraordinary circumstances today.
But the Seagulls left it very late before pipping Reading to sixth spot.
Ulloa nodded home a Craig Mackail-Smith cross in added time to secure a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile rivals Reading could only draw 2-2 at home to Burnley.
Albion did it the hard way with a rare come-from-behind win.
They fell behind on 22 minutes, just after news filtered through that Reading had seen an early lead cancelled out.
Tomasz Kuszczak was at fault as Matt Derbyshire’s header, which he seemed to have covered, bounced gently in off his thigh beneath the gaze of the disbelieving away fans.
By then Ulloa had already dragged a good chance wide after being sent clear to the right of goal.
Ulloa had a potential equaliser ruled out for offside as he turned in Will Buckley’s low cross. But it was a nervy and disjointed first half by Albion, whose supporters were clearly aware Reading had fallen 2-1 down.
Stephen Ward drilled Albion level early in the second half to nudge them into sixth spot.
But Reading then levelled through Garath McCleary.
That was how it stayed as Inigo Calderon saw a late volley parried by Dorus De Vries.
But then Albion countered from the edge of their own area and Ulloa nodded home to spark delirium among almost 2,000 Seagulls fans behind that goal.
Original article
Leo Ulloa scored the goal which secured Albion’s play-off place in extraordinary circumstances today.
But the Seagulls left it very late before pipping Reading to sixth spot.
Ulloa nodded home a Craig Mackail-Smith cross in added time to secure a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile rivals Reading could only draw 2-2 at home to Burnley.
Albion did it the hard way with a rare come-from-behind win.
They fell behind on 22 minutes, just after news filtered through that Reading had seen an early lead cancelled out.
Tomasz Kuszczak was at fault as Matt Derbyshire’s header, which he seemed to have covered, bounced gently in off his thigh beneath the gaze of the disbelieving away fans.
By then Ulloa had already dragged a good chance wide after being sent clear to the right of goal.
Ulloa had a potential equaliser ruled out for offside as he turned in Will Buckley’s low cross. But it was a nervy and disjointed first half by Albion, whose supporters were clearly aware Reading had fallen 2-1 down.
Stephen Ward drilled Albion level early in the second half to nudge them into sixth spot.
But Reading then levelled through Garath McCleary.
That was how it stayed as Inigo Calderon saw a late volley parried by Dorus De Vries.
But then Albion countered from the edge of their own area and Ulloa nodded home to spark delirium among almost 2,000 Seagulls fans behind that goal.
- Who was top man at Forest?
- Oscar is delighted - and there is special praise for Mackail-Smith
- Now here's how to get your play-off tickets
- Albion's last-day drama - how was it for you?
- Albion celebrate in style - then take the applause from Forest fans
Original article