Charlton Athletic edged past Wycombe Wanderers with a 1-0 victory in their Sky Bet League One play-off semi-final second leg at The Valley on May 15, 2025. Matt Godden’s 81st-minute strike proved decisive, sending the Addicks to Wembley where they will face Leyton Orient in the final.
The tense encounter showcased Charlton’s defensive resilience as they successfully shut out their opponents to secure progression.
Match-winning moment arrives late
The Valley was the stage for a tightly contested affair where chances were at a premium throughout much of the game. Both sides demonstrated cautious approaches, aware of the high stakes involved in this crucial play-off encounter. The breakthrough finally came with just nine minutes of regular time remaining when Matt Godden found the net to send the home supporters into raptures. His clinical finish proved to be the difference between the two sides, highlighting the fine margins in play-off football.
The goal came after a period of sustained pressure from the home side, who had gradually asserted their dominance as the match progressed. Wycombe, despite their best efforts to find an equalizer in the closing stages, couldn’t penetrate Charlton’s well-organized defensive unit.
Tactical battle and key moments
Charlton’s manager employed a disciplined tactical approach that prioritized defensive solidity while looking to strike on counter-attacks. This strategy paid dividends as they limited Wycombe’s attacking threats throughout the match. The game’s intensity was evident from the disciplinary record, with George Docherty receiving a yellow card for Charlton just before halftime in the 44th minute.
Both managers turned to their benches to influence the outcome as the match progressed. Charlton made strategic substitutions with C. Aneke replacing T. Small in the 71st minute, providing fresh attacking impetus that ultimately contributed to the breakthrough. Later, K. Anderson was introduced for A. Gilbert in the 84th minute to help see out the victory.
Wycombe’s response included bringing on F. Onyedinma for R. Kone in the 75th minute, followed by a double change in the 87th minute when G. Kodua and K. Sadlier replaced A. Reach and X. Simons respectively. Despite these attacking changes, they couldn’t find a way through Charlton’s resolute defense.
Betting perspective
From a betting standpoint, Charlton’s victory represented good value for those who backed the home side, The pre-match odds had Charlton as favorites at +130, meaning a $100 stake would have returned $230 including the original stake. The match also delivered for those who bet on under 1.5 goals, with the single goal scored falling within this threshold.
The betting markets accurately reflected the tight nature of the contest, with the low-scoring outcome aligning with expectations for a tense play-off encounter where teams ofetn adopt cautious approaches.
Road to Wembley
The victory secures Charlton’s place in the League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium, where they will face Leyton Orient with promotion to the Championship at stake. This represents a significant opportunity for the club to return to the second tier of English football.
Key factors in Charlton’s successful semi-final campaign included:
- Defensive solidity with no goals conceded
- Clinical finishing when opportunities arose
- Effective game management in the closing stages
- Strategic use of substitutions
- Home advantage at The Valley
The fianl against Leyton Orient promises to be another tightly contested affair, with both teams just one win away from promotion. Charlton will take confidence from their defensive performance against Wycombe as they prepare for their Wembley showdown.