Mihailo Ivanovic scored a last-minute penalty today as Millwall defeated Stoke City 1-0 at The Den, clinching three important points as they push for playoff contention.
The decisive moment of the match arrived deep in injury time when Josh Coburn was brought down by Ben Wilmot inside the penalty area. Referee Andy Davies ruled the foul, leading to Ivanovic stepping up to convert the penalty kick, sealing Millwall's victory.
Despite the late drama, the game had been largely uneventful for much of the 90 minutes. The first half saw both teams struggling to create clear chances, with the best opportunity falling to Millwall when Casper De Norre intercepted the ball and set up Aidomo Emakhu. Unfortunately, Emakhu's shot was blocked after he took too long to make his move.
The Potters controlled much of the early action, yet it was the Lions who had the lone shot on target during the first half. Following some decent build-up play, Joe Bryan took aim from distance, but his shot was comfortably collected by Stoke's goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson.
Stoke City looked to gain momentum when Bae Junho's powerful strike rattled the crossbar shortly after halftime, nearly putting the Potters on the scoreboard. Millwall goalkeeper Lukas Jensen then made impressive saves against Wouter Burger, denying him from close range and keeping the score level.
Throughout the second half, Millwall began to exert more pressure and sought chances from set-pieces. After introducing fresh legs with substitutions approaching the 90-minute mark, including Aaron Connolly and Wes Harding, the Lions persisted. But it seemed the match would end goalless until Coburn's drawn foul presented the late chance Ivanovic exploited.
Following the penalty awarded, Ivanovic scored with confidence, converting from close distance and showcasing his ability with his sixth goal of the season across all competitions. His performance was pivotal as Millwall secured their second home win under manager Alex Neil, who expressed satisfaction with their second-half display.
Following the match, Alex Neil reflected on the impact of such close calls: “Whether it's a penalty or not, we've all been victims of decisions across the season, but I thought it was no more than we deserved for our second-half performance.”
He acknowledged the challenge of facing Stoke, explaining, “It was pleasing to win against a team that's fighting for their lives at this stage of the season.”
Conversely, Stoke’s manager Mark Robins was left lamenting the defeat, feeling the result was unjust. “What the referee has seen (for the penalty), I have no clue... it's absolutely ridiculous,” Robins said, expressing frustration over how the match unfolded.
This win advances Millwall to just five points short of the playoff positions, intensifying their hopes as they prepare for their upcoming away match against Sunderland. Meanwhile, Stoke remains teetering just four points above the relegation zone, with their fate hanging precariously and will face mid-table Queens Park Rangers after the international break.
Attending fans witnessed a hard-fought battle, and as the Lions celebrated their hard-won victory, players and fans alike looked forward to the next challenge on their quest for promotion.