Brighton vs. Sheffield Wednesday: Score, Reaction from 2016 Championship Playoff

Sheffield Wednesday secured their place in the Championship play-off final as they drew 1-1 with Brighton and Hove Albion in a thrilling match at the Amex Stadium on Monday, winning 3-1 on aggregate.

Lewis Dunk opened the scoring amid a dominant first half for Brighton, but the Seagulls still went in two goals down in the tie at half-time due to Ross Wallace's fortunate equaliser.

Albion were the better side for most of the match as they sought to overturn Wednesday's 2-0 lead from the first leg, but they ultimately failed to make their chances pay.

The match began at an electric pace as the hosts immediately set about reducing the deficit. After winning a corner just two minutes in, Brighton caused chaos in the Wednesday area, as Steve Sidwell and James Wilson had efforts blocked before Jiri Skalak fired wide.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The Seagulls pinned their opponents back in their own half as they pressed forward again, and Anthony Knockaert rattled the woodwork with an excellent free-kick after Glenn Loovens brought him down.

The Frenchman tried his luck once more several minutes later, and this time he forced a scrambling save from Keiren Westwood.

Retired footballer Didi Hamann commented on the breathless opening period:

Knockaert and Sam Baldock had efforts saved before the latter contrived to head a simple chance wide, but Brighton had the goal they deserved when Dunk stabbed home a Knockaert free-kick from close range.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The rattled visitors were eventually able to regain their composure and thanks to more than a little good fortune found the net on their first real foray up the pitch when Wallace's cross crept in at the back post, per Sky Sports Football League:

Alan Biggs of the Daily Mail noted the importance of the Owls getting on the scoresheet:

The hosts responded well to the setback. Knockaert and Wilson led the charge forward once more, while Skalak whipped a free-kick inches over.

In the final minute of the half, Beram Kayal came close to netting, only to see Kieran Lee clear his poked effort off the line following a goalmouth scramble, before Wednesday charged down the other end and Gary Hooper forced a save from David Stockdale.

Biggs gave an insight into what Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal might have told his players at the break, while OptaJoe illustrated why:

The second half began as quickly as the first, with Skalak and Wilson testing Westwood earlier before Barry Bannan did the same for Stockdale with a bouncing effort.

Kayal was then fortunate not to be sent off, despite committing two bad fouls in as many minutes. The first took out Fernando Forestieri as he broke with pace and was rewarded with a yellow card, but the second—a two-footed slide at Wallace—went unpunished.

Brighton continued to push forward, but as the game wore on, their attacks became less fluid as they got more desperate. Meanwhile, Wednesday were resolute at the back, per the Sheffield Star's Chris Holt and Biggs:

Wednesday will need to be much improved if they're to get past Hull City or Derby County in the final, but their ability to withstand Brighton's onslaught will serve them well if they find themselves on the back foot at Wembley Stadium on May 28.

There was nothing to separate Wednesday and the Tigers—their most likely opponents after they beat the Rams 3-0 in their first leg—when they met in the league this season, and the same is likely to be the case in the final.

Post-Match Reaction

Per Brighton reporter Andy Naylor, Carvalhal was magnanimous in victory:

According to BBC Radio Sheffield's Football Heaven, he added:

Per BBC Sussex Sport, Brighton boss Chris Hughton had nothing but praise for his players' efforts: "It was a tough night and things went against us. They've shown character all season. All I wanted tonight if we weren't going to go I wanted to go down fighting and we did. The players have shown a real desire. It's a real competitive division, we've been able to compete."