Luton reach EFL Trophy semis as late goal beats Plymouth

Luton Town are in the semi finals of the EFL Trophy after a late goal saw them beat Plymouth Argyle 2-1 at Kenilworth Road.

Having been reinstated to the competition after Swindon Town were found to have fielded two ineligible players, the Hatters would confirm their continuation in the competition as Jordan Clark’s late penalty saw them beat fellow League One side Argyle at Kenilworth Road.

Tegan Finn had cancelled out Isaiah Jones’ opener, but the late Clark goal puts them into a semi-final next week, which will see Jack Wilshere’s Hatters host Northampton Town for a place at Wembley in the EFL Trophy final on Wednesday of next week.

Plymouth have the game’s first major chance, with James Shea denying Xavier Amaechi.

The opening goal of the game came for the Hatters, with Luton scoring after 16 minutes. A venomous low cross by Jake Richards picked out Jones, who duly struck home to put the home side in front.

Despite losing Teden Mengi to injury, the hosts still pressed searching for a second. Away keeper Connor Hazard denied George Saville, before Mads Andersen headed wide at a corner.

Clark and Saville would both be denied after the break by Hazard, with the Northern Irish keeper also pulling off the save to keep out another effort from Clark.

But although Luton had a majority of chances, Plymouth ended up equalising after 77 minutes. Shea’s attempted clearance went askew and fell kindly for visiting sub Finn, who duly rolled the ball past the exposed keeper into the back of the net to equalise for the visitors.

In the final minutes of the 90, however, Luton went back in front. A foul on Nahki Wells was deemed worthy of a spot-kick, and Clark beat Hazard to put the Hatters back in front.

Julio Pleguezuelo headed wide in Plymouth’s best chance in stoppage time to equalise for a second time and force penalties, but the visitors ran out of time to find the equaliser, allowing Luton to toast victory and a place in the EFL Trophy’s last four.