A Jack Marriott double has helped Derby wipe a two-goal deficit to defeat Leeds United at Elland Road and seal their place in the Championship Playoff final.
After losing 1-0 at home in the first leg, Derby were heading into the second leg with a major mountain to climb – coupled by the fact a Championship side has never progressed to the playoff final after losing the first leg at home.
It looked as if Leeds had continued where they had left off when Stuart Dallas opened the scoring after a Pablo Hernandez free-kick ricocheted off the wood-work and into the path of the Northern Irishman who was able to tap the ball home from point-blank range.
However, Derby manager Frank Lampard made the ambitious swap of bringing on Marriott just before the break who opened his account only 33 seconds later after a mix-up at the back to bring the Rams right back into tie.
The momentum continued after the interval when Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson teed up Mason Mount who was able to slam it past Kiko Casilla and in turn squaring the ledger.
The comeback was complete 12 minutes later after Liam Cooper brought down Mason Bennett inside the box and Wilson stepped up to dually finish from the spot and give Derby a remarkable lead.
Moments later, Leeds were right back in the game as Dallas rocketed home his second after a fantastic solo effort down the wing tied the aggregate once again.
Leeds seemed like they were in full control after this point but this changed after Gaetano Berardi was sent off for a lunging tackle on Bradley Johnson and they were made to pay when Marriott got on the end of a Richard Keogh through-ball to dispatched the winner.
The win seals a massive upset victory for Derby who will now face Aston Villa in the Playoff Final on May 28 at Wembley Stadium.
