AFC Wimbledon Win League Two Playoff Final, Return to League One

AFC Wimbledon secured promotion back to League One with a narrow 1-0 victory over Walsall in the League Two play-off final at Wembley, thanks to a first-half stoppage-time goal from Myles Hippolyte. The match was largely cagey and low on clear chances, with both teams showing strong defensive performances, particularly from Wimbledon's goalkeeper Owen Goodman and defender Joe Lewis. Walsall, who had a strong start to the season leading the table by 12 points in January, faltered in the latter part of the campaign, winning only three of their last 21 games and ultimately missing out on automatic promotion. Despite a late surge in the second half, Walsall were denied an equalizer when Riley Harbottle made a crucial goal-line clearance. The victory marked a significant achievement for AFC Wimbledon, who returned to Wembley for the first time since 2016, while Walsall fans expressed disappointment but maintained hope for future success. Both teams had to cope with player injuries and doubts, with Wimbledon missing key players like Omar Bugiel for the final.