Portsmouth Sealed Promotion to the Championship as League One Winners on Tuesday Night from flares Watch Video

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✓ Published: 17-Apr-2024

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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.<br/><br/>Thousands of jubilant Pompey supporters stormed onto the pitch at full-time after Conor Shaughnessy netted the crucial winner in the 89th minute.<br/><br/>Portsmouth twice went behind in the match after Devante Cole's early opener and John McAtee's strike shortly before the hour mark but managed to rally a late surge to win promotion, with top scorer Colby Bishop equalizing from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute before Shaughnessy's dramatic winning goal.<br/><br/>Promotion to the Championship ends Portsmouth's 12-year spell outside English football's second tier, with the south coast club falling as low as League Two in 2013 due to crippling financial struggles. <br/><br/>Portsmouth owner Eric Eisner, who bought the club from the Pompey Supporters Trust in 2017, posted to social media on Tuesday: 'Perfectly fitting way to win the league!! 2 late goals from the team that never quit all season. <br/><br/>'Everybody deserves this from the fans, to the staff, to the players. Let it all soak in. I have a feeling Portsmouth will be on fire tonight. See you over for the finale. CHAMPIONS!'<br/><br/>Cole's strike threatened to spoil Portsmouth's promotion party in the early stages, but Kusini Yengi leveled terms in the ninth minute much to the relief of the Fratton faithful.<br/><br/>The match developed into a nervy affair as both teams battled for a crucial go-ahead goal, which came by way of Barnsley striker McAtee in the 59th minute. <br/><br/>Pushed on by the home support, John Mousinho's side fought hard for a turnaround in the closing stages before Bishop netted from the penalty spot, scoring his 21st league goal of the season, and Shaughnessy grabbed the winner from a corner kick.<br/><br/>Portsmouth were relegated from the Championship in 2012 after receiving a 10-point deduction for entering administration for the second time in two years. <br/><br/>Perfectly fitting way to win the league!! 2 late goals from the team that never quit all season. Everybody deserves this from the fans, to the staff, to the players. Let it all soak in. I have a feeling Portsmouth will be on fire tonight. See you over for the finale.<br/><br/>During their seven-year spell in the Premier League between 2003 and 2010, Portsmouth won the FA Cup and finished as high as eighth in the division.<br/><br/>Ronaldinho, who starred for Milan during Portsmouth's 2-2 draw with the Italian giants in 2009, described Fratton Park as 'one of the best atmospheres ever'.<br/><br/>The passionate fanbase lived up to their reputation on Tuesday as they stormed the pitch with blue flares to celebrate with the players.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, second-place Derby took a huge step towards League One promotion as Bolton only managed a 2-2 draw at home. The Rams head into the final two matches of the season with a three-point lead over Ian Evatt's side.