- Adam (13), Taylor-Fletcher (41), Ormerod (45)
- Chopra (9), Ledley (37)
- Date:2010-05-22
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Wembley
- Attendance:82244
- Referee:Marriner, A
Live Commentary
90mins
FULL-TIME: BLACKPOOL 3-2 CARDIFF CITY
90mins
Vaughan heads off to be replaced by Barry Bannan as more precious seconds tick away
90mins
Four minutes will be added to this nail-biting game for stoppages
89mins
The Seasiders were simply brilliant in the first half and a little unlucky to concede twice so nobody can say they don't deserve to win this game
88mins
The promised land is just seconds away for Blackpool now and thy are managing to run the clock down with some much-needed possession in the Cardiff half
86mins
Supporters from both sides can barely bring themselves to watch these closing moments but for very different reasons!
85mins
Cardiff are dominating possession but every long ball forward is being returned with interest as more minutes tick away
83mins
Ian Holloway is urging his players on from the technical area as the Seasiders are just minutes away from the most unlikely of places in the Premier League
81mins
Blake runs past two tacklers but his low shot is straight at the keeper who holds well under pressure
80mins
These are nervous times for Blackpool fans as their team is being pinned back almost in their own penalty area
78mins
McCormark sends an ambitious angled effort into the side-netting as Cardiff continue to knock at the door
77mins
Gilks gets away with a howler as he flaps at a high ball under pressure from Chopra and the ball shaves the upright on its way behind. There was no whistle for a free-kick so any goal would have counted
76mins
Dave Jones is urging his players on but time is beginning to tick away on Cardiff's Premier League dream
74mins
Instead McNaughton limps off and is replaced by Anthony Gerrard and Cardiff only have 10 and a half men!
72mins
McPhail is really struggling to shake off the knee problem and is set to be replaced
71mins
Chopra turns away in disgust after being sent sprawling by Crainey when looking to latch on to a Whittingham throughball. Perhaps it's just not going to be Cardiff's day?
69mins
In a reversal of roles from the first half it is Blackpool now struggling to get the ball out of their own half. Ian Holloway looks concerned in the technical area
67mins
McCormack cuts inside his marker but drags a poor right-foot shot well wide of the target from distance
65mins
Stephen McPhail's afternoon might be over following a strong tackle in the centre circle. He's stayed down and his knee looks to be the problem. He's up but for how long?
64mins
Matt Gilks has his palms stung by a first-time shot from Etuhu after a swift break led by Chopra
63mins
Cardiff are turning the screw now and it's all hands on pump at the back for Blackpool at the moment
61mins
Stephen Dobbie comes on for Ormerod for the Seasiders
60mins
Ledley meets a corner with a glancing header which drifts just wide of the mark. That had equalising goal written all over it!
59mins
Adam drags an ambitious 25-yard shot wide of the target as Blackpool go straight up the other end and threaten
58mins
Burke is replaced by Ross McCormack for Cardiff
57mins
Chopra slams a rising shot from 18 yards off the top of the bar after keeping himself just onside. That was a warning to Blackpool that this game is far from over
56mins
The quality of the first half has dropped away a little but that's understandable in these sweltering conditions
55mins
Adam spots the keeper off his line but his shot from inside his own half is way off target and the Cardiff fans let him know about it!
53mins
Taylor-Fletcher is carrying a knock and is replaced by Ben Burgess for Blackpool
52mins
Campbell twists and turns in the box but his shot deflects away to safety off the body of Blake amid calls for a handball
50mins
Adam is lucky to escape a caution after two late tackles in quick succession right under the referee's nose
49mins
Etuhu darts down the wing and sends over an early cross which Chopra can't reach
47mins
Ormerod catches Kevin McNaughton with a late tackle in midfield but the Cardiff full-back will be okay to continue
46mins
Blackpool get the second half underway in baking conditions here at Wembley
45mins
HALF-TIME: BLACKPOOL 3-2 CARDIFF CITY
45mins
Blake sticks out a leg to divert a free-kick into the net but he's clearly offside and the effort is rightly ruled out by the assistant referee
45mins
BLACKPOOL 3-2 CARDIFF CITY: BRETT ORMEROD is in the right place at the right time as Campbell slips while shooting but the ball falls at the feet of the striker who lashes a low shot through the keeper's legs
43mins
Blackpool have probably shaded the first half but have twice been forced to come from behind. Football can be a funny old game!
42mins
The first half has flown by such has been the quality of this match and this is a great advert for Championship football
41mins
BLACKPOOL 2-2 CARDIFF CITY: He doesn't have to wait long for another chance as TAYLOR-FLETCHER heads in the loose ball from close range following a scramble at a corner. What a game!
39mins
Gary Taylor-Fletcher holds his head after rattling the post with a 20-yard half-volley which had Marshall beaten
38mins
BLACKPOOL 1-2 CARDIFF CITY: LEDLEY slots the ball home from 12 yards after a great throughball from Whittingham opens up the Pool defence down the inside-left channel
36mins
Chopra and Ledley play a neat one-two in the box but the ball is blocked out for a corner as Cardiff make a rare foray up front
34mins
Cardiff just can't retain the ball as we edge towards half-time and Blackpool fully deserve to be back on level terms
31mins
Adam leaves Ledley in a heap in the centre circle and that's almost the first free-kick for a foul in the opening 32 minutes
29mins
Ledley lofts a perfect pass into the feet of Chopra but he mis-times a 10-yard volley and Blackpool are given a let-off
27mins
Peter Whittingham drives in an ambitious angled shot which is well wide but at least it earns the Cardiff defence some much-needed respite
25mins
Dave Jones looks an agitated man in the Cardiff technical area as his side remains second best
23mins
Blackpool are domninating possession as we move towards the midway point of the first half. Cardiff just can't break out of their own half
21mins
David Vaughan goes for goal from 25 yards but his powerful left-foot effort drifts just wide of the upright with Marshall covering
20mins
Campbell takes a swipe at fresh air after being picked out by an inch-perfect cut-back from the left wing. That was a really good chance for the on-loan striker
19mins
Darcy Blake does well to cut out a terrific cross into the heart of the six-yard box and this is a real end-to-end encounter
17mins
Chopra looks a real livewire up front for the Bluebirds and the Blackpool defence will have to be wary of him as this open match progresses
15mins
Bothroyd finally limps off with a possible calf problem and Kelvin Etuhu takes his place
13mins
BLACKPOOL 1-1 CARDIFF CITY: CHARLIE ADAM lights up Wembley as he steps up and drills a stunning 25-yard free-kick over the wall and into the top corner of Marshall's net
11mins
The Cardiff fans are in full voice now and there's silence among the hoardes of orange-clad Seasiders followers
9mins
BLACKPOOL 0-1 CARDIFF CITY: CHOPRA picks his spot low past the keeper after coming back from an offside position to latch on to Joe Ledley's inch-perfect throughball
8mins
Dave Jones is barking out orders from his technical area and Bothroyd might have to bow out early as he's still not happy
6mins
Cardiff have their tails up now as they attack down both flanks. Meanwhile, Jay Bothroyd looks like he might be struggling with a foot problem
4mins
Michael Chopra rattles the woodwork as he gets across Evatt and meets a near-post cross with an outstretched foot. That was Cardiff's first attack and it almost ended in an early goal
2mins
Ian Evatt overhits a long ball down the middle looking for Dudley Campbell and the Cardiff keeper claims
2mins
David Marshall comes off his line but fails to get the ball only for his defence to recover. Blackpool are on top in the opening moments
0mins
Cardiff get the game underway to a huge roar from both sets of fans
0mins
The teams are on the Wembley turf, the sun is beating down and we are just minutes away from kick-off
0mins
Both sides are unchanged from the second legs of the semi-finals when Cardiff beat Leicester City on penalties and Blackpool overcame Nottingham Forest
0mins
Dave Jones' Cardiff are pre-match favourites but don't write off the Seasiders following their superb season under maverick manager Ian Holloway
0mins
It's the richest game in world football - with the winner earning a reported £90million from promotion to the top-flight
0mins
Cardiff City take on Blackpool in this afternoon's Championship play-off final at Wembley with the winner earning a lucrative place in the Premier League
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Match Report
Blackpool will play in the Premier League next season following a stunning 3-2 Championship play-off final victory over Cardiff City at Wembley.
Ian Holloway's side twice found themselves behind in an end-to-end first half before claiming a lead they would not relinquish on the stroke of half-time.
Cardiff were strong pre-match favourites after finishing six points and two places above the unfashionable north-west outfit at the end of the regular season.
However, the Seasiders ripped up the formbook at Wembley to secure a surprise return to the top-flight after a near 40-year absence.
Cardiff drew first blood through the lively Michael Chopra with just nine minutes on the clock.
Chopra had already rattled the woodwork in the fourth minute when he latched on to Peter Whittingham's throughball after returning from an offside position before squeezing a well-placed shot between goalkeeper Matt Gilks and the upright.
But Blackpool's legendary spirit was on display almost immediately as they clawed their way back on level terms through Charlie Adam.
The former Rangers midfielder dispatched a stunning 25-yard free-kick over the wall and into the top corner of the net to send the Seasiders fans wild.
Cardiff lost key striker Jay Bothroyd to injury soon after but managed to score against the run of play to get their noses back in front.
After repelling wave after wave of Blackpool attacks, Whittingham again opened up the defence with a perfectly weighted pass through the inside left channel and Joe Ledley found the back of the net from 12 yards.
However, Bluebirds fans had barely retaken their seats when Blackpool restored parity for a second time.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher profited from a scramble at a corner to bravely head home a loose ball to level up an entertaining game once again.
Blackpool then struck the decisive blow on the stroke of half-time. Dudley Campbell broke into the area but failed to make clean contact with the ball before it rolled into the path of Brett Ormerod and the veteran striker lashed a low shot through the goalkeeper's legs.
The second half was a more cagey affair and every time Cardiff built up a head of steam they were deflated by an injury problem.
Stephen McPhail and Kevin McNaughton were both troubled, with the latter having to be replaced in the 74th minute as Dave Jones was forced into a third and final substitution.
Dangerman Chopra rattled the crossbar with a rising shot while Ledley glanced a corner narrowly wide as the Welsh side repeatedly knocked at the door.
However, they couldn't find a way through a defence which gave everything in the final 45 minutes and at full-time it was the sea of orange-clad Blackpool fans celebrating the most unlikely of promotions to the promised land of the Premier League.
Blackpool Team
Cardiff City Team
Blackpool | Cardiff City |
Corners
| 5 | 6 |
Fouls
| 13 | 7 |
Goal attempts
| 10 | 13 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 6 |
Offsides
| 2 | 3 |




90mins
Orange-clad fans are beginning to celebrate the most unlikely of promotions to the Premier League as we enter the closing seconds