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Luton Towns: Reece Burke in a duel with Coventry's Viktor Gyökeres

Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP

The traditional English club Luton Town has secured promotion to the Premier League. The second-division football club won the decisive match against Coventry City 6-5 (1-0, 1-1) on penalties on Saturday evening. Luton are back in the top flight for the first time in 31 years and will play their first season in the Premier League, which has been in place since 1992. Previously, Sheffield United and second division champions FC Burnley had already achieved promotion.

Luton had finished the season in third place in the second-tier Championship, while Coventry had finished fifth. The teams in third to sixth place in the table will fight for the third promotion spot in knockout matches.

All-clear after worries about Lockyer

Luton's captain Tom Lockyer caused a moment of shock at the beginning of the game, falling to the ground without any action from the opponent and had to be treated for several minutes. He was taken off the pitch on a stretcher and taken to a hospital for further examinations. The club later said Lockyer was responsive and posted a photo of Lockyer cheering from his hospital bed on social media.

Luton Town's rise is considered one of the biggest surprises in recent English football history. In the 2013/2014 season, Luton played in the fifth-highest division. Luton's home ground, Kenilworth Road, holds just 10,226 spectators and was already the smallest stadium in the competition in the Championship.

cev/dpa