- Conor Shaughnessy scored in the 89th minute to earn Portsmouth promotion.
- The south coast club were crowned League One champions after a 3-2 victory
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Portsmouth sealed promotion to the Championship as League One winners on Tuesday night after completing a late comeback to triumph 3-2 over play-off hopefuls Barnsley at Fratton Park.
Thousands of enthusiastic Pompey supporters stormed the pitch at the end of time after Conor Shaughnessy scored the crucial winning goal in the 89th minute.
Portsmouth fell behind twice in the match after Devante Cole’s opener and John McAtee’s goal just before the hour mark, but managed to make a late comeback to win promotion, with top scorer Colby Bishop equalizing from the spot penalty in the 83rd minute before Shaughnessy’s dramatic winner.
Promotion to the Championship ends Portsmouth’s 12-year spell outside English football’s second tier, with the south coast club dropping to League Two in 2013 due to crippling financial problems.
Portsmouth owner Eric Eisner, who bought the club from the Pompey Supporters Trust in 2017, posted on social media on Tuesday: “A perfect way to win the league!! 2 late goals from the team that never gave up throughout the season.
Portsmouth players celebrate jubilantly with fans after winning promotion from League One.
Thousands of fans stormed Fratton Park full time to celebrate winning promotion
Pompey were crowned champions after a 3-2 victory over Barnsley on Tuesday night.
‘Everyone deserves it, from the fans to the staff to the players. Let it all sink in. I have a feeling Portsmouth will be on fire tonight. See you at the end. CHAMPIONS!’
Cole’s goal threatened to ruin Portsmouth’s promotion party early on, but Kusini Yengi equalized in the ninth minute to the relief of the Fratton faithful.
The match became a nervy affair as both teams battled for the crucial go-ahead goal, which came through Barnsley striker McAtee in the 59th minute.
Buoyed by home support, John Mousinho’s side fought hard to turn the corner in the final minutes before Bishop scored from a penalty, scoring his 21st league goal of the season, and Shaughnessy scored the winner in a corner kick.
Portsmouth were relegated from the Championship in 2012 after receiving a 10-point deduction for entering administration for the second time in two years.
Conor Shaughnessy scored the crucial goal from a corner before celebrating with the fans.
Promotion to League One ends Portsmouth’s 12 barren years out of the Championship
Former Portsmouth star and Sky Sports pundit Chris Kamara was present at Fratton Park
During their seven years in the Premier League between 2003 and 2010, Portsmouth won the FA Cup and finished eighth in the division.
Ronaldinho, who starred for Milan during Portsmouth’s 2-2 draw against the Italian giants in 2009, described Fratton Park as “one of the best atmospheres ever”.
The passionate fans lived up to their reputation on Tuesday when they stormed the pitch with blue flares to celebrate with the players.
Second-place Derby, meanwhile, took a big step towards promotion to League One as Bolton only managed a 2-2 draw at home. The Rams go into the final two games of the season with a three-point lead over Ian Evatt’s team.