A game of football that was never really about the football.
Sheffield Wednesday, a club over 150 years old, has been driven to the brink of existence by its much-maligned owner, Dejphon Chansiri.
With Chansiri causing fans and staff such distress, the supporters' trust took the step of announcing that they will be boycotting this local derby against Leeds United. An act that goes against every football fan's natural instinct, but one that was entirely necessary.
This is a game that usually would see Wednesday fans flocking to Hillsborough Stadium and selling out the ground. Instead, it was Leeds fans who sold out their allocation, while there was only a sprinkling of Wednesday fans at the famous old ground.
Owls’ fans have instead decided to give the money that would have been spent on tickets for this game to the Sheffield Children’s Hospital—a noble act.
The message was clear: Sheffield Wednesday fans want Dejphon Chansiri out, and they want him out now.
In the game itself, Wednesday shocked their Premier League opposition by beating them on penalties.
Wednesday took a shock lead on the hour mark, as captain for the night, and only outfield player for the Owls above the age of 20, Jamal Lowe, attempted to put the ball into the danger zone from a tight angle, but instead, the ball somehow managed to squeeze through the legs of Karl Darlow and trickle over the line.
Leeds equalised soon after, as former Sheffield United man **Jayden**Bogle fired home after some lovely footwork from Wilfried Gnonto.
Ethan Horvath made himself a hero, saving two penalties to help guide a youthful team through to the third round of the EFL Cup.
A historic night, in all but empty Hillsborough Stadium.
Story of the match
In the build-up to this game, Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen stated he would have to rely on the club’s under-21 squad, given the circumstances surrounding the Owls.
And he was not lying, as he picked a side primarily made up of youngsters, with nine of the starting XI aged 20 or younger.
Their opponents, on the other hand, named a team chock full of summer signings as the likes of Lukas Nmecha, Noah Okafor, and Sean Longstaff made their first start for the Whites.
As many predicted, it was Leeds who enjoyed the vast majority of possession, as Sheffield Wednesday opted to attempt to frustrate their fellow Yorkshire side by sitting deep and remaining compact.
15 minutes in, and **Daniel Farke**’s side had 90% of the ball, but had failed to have an attempt on goal.
One or two of the Wednesday youth brigade were looking particularly lively, namely George Brown and Reece Johnson, with the former looking eager to ensure the Premier League stars were never comfortable on the ball.
Brenden Aaronson was granted his side’s first chance of the game, as a ball was whipped into the box, but he could not make the desired contact with the ball, and compatriot Ethan Horvath saved his effort.
A third of the way through the game, and Leeds fans were beginning to become audibly frustrated with their team’s lack of offensive output, with occasional boos ringing out from the away end.
To add to their irritation, Wednesday put together a very encouraging counterattack, which culminated in Brazilian Guilherme Siqueira attempting a long-range shot that was blocked and went out for a corner. A warning to Leeds that one lapse of concentration, and this young side could pounce and make them pay.
As the half-time whistle blew, the few home fans stood up and gave their side a huge standing ovation, while their opponent’s fans did not give their team quite the same reception.
Second half
When one team has as much of the ball as Leeds during this game, it is incredibly easy for the side who are defending to tire, as they are chasing shadows and having to remain alert at all times. However, this is where the youth of this Sheffield Wednesday team was coming into play. They were not slowing down, they were not making mistakes, they were fully committed to ensuring Leeds did not score. Even an hour into the match, they were not faltering.
Farke had seen enough. Wilfried Gnonto came on, as did new signing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who received a few jeers from the Wednesday faithful, due to him coming through the Sheffield United youth academy.
But then, unbelievably, after a spell of Leeds pressure, the youthful Sheffield Wednesday took the lead through their one senior outfield player on the pitch, as captain Jamal Lowe gave his side a shock lead.
It came as Jarvis Thornton’s effort was parried by Karl Darlow and landed at Lowe’s feet at a tight angle. The skipper seemingly attempted to put the ball pack into the box, but instead, the ball somehow conspired to squirm through the legs of Darlow and just about creep over the line.
Cue scenes of absolute jubilation. A side pushed to the proverbial edge through poor ownership, a side forced to play a team of kids, a side whose long-term future is far from guaranteed, had taken the lead against a Leeds side filled with internationals. Remarkable.
Leeds immediately attempted to fire back, but Cardiff City loanee Horvath was equal to all their efforts. Pulling off a couple of fantastic saves in the process.
However, unfortunately for Wednesday, Leeds’s pressure eventually told, as Jayden Bogle fired home from after some fantastic footwork from Gnonto, before playing the ball through to the former Sheffield United man.
It was harsh on the Wednesday side that had defended for their lives. It took an outrageous piece of skill from the **Italy**international to unlock the young defence.
In added time, Calvert-Lewin was presented with several chances, and he somehow managed to squander them all, with the first being particularly egregious.
Leeds could not find a way to score a second, and penalties were required. The final whistle was greeted like a win by the Wednesday fans. No matter the result of spot kicks, this side had done their club, town and community proud.
The penalty shootout followed the exact same manner as the game, as Wednesday beat their Yorkshire rivals 3-0 on spot kicks.
Ethan Horvath saved penalties from both Joel Piroe and Sean Longstaff to write his name into Sheffield Wednesday legend.
Calvert-Lewin also put his penalty way over the bar, a debut to forget for Leeds' new number nine.
A night that will forever be remembered by Wednesday fans, despite the fact that many of them were not at the ground.
Player of the match - Ethan Horvath
Ethan Horvath was making his home debut for Sheffield Wednesday, but with this performance, he has already written his name into the club’s folklore.
In the 90 minutes, he made save after save after save. Continuously keeping Leeds out. Not only that, but he ensured the young Wednesday defence maintained concentration.
And then in the shootout, my word. He saved penalties from **Joel Piroe**and Sean Longstaff to help guide his side to the most remarkable victory.