Two outstanding finishes sees Peterborough United stun League One champions Birmingham City to win the 2025 EFL Trophy Final.
The Posh were ahead on 15 minutes, 19-year-old Harley Mills, who was on loan to National League South side Enfield Town earlier this season, stepped up to take it, and with such incredible precise accuracy puts it past the Blues keeper.
Gaby Zakuani (Ex-Peterborough defender on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire): “That is a fabulous goal by Harley Mills.
“When you take a lead the next few minutes are so important but that could work in Peterborough’s favour, Birmingham could leave gaps.
“Peterborough have not looked out of place and you can’t fault the way that they’ve approached this game.”
WHAT. A. STRIKE. 🤯
19-year-old Peterborough left-back Harley Mills puts Posh in front at Wembley with a STUNNING free-kick 🚀 pic.twitter.com/K8G0Co34tS
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 13, 2025
Then just before half time, it was 2-0 Peterborough. Hector Kyprianou ran onto a cross, curved away from the goal and he smashed it right into the top corner. Providing the pass was Harley Mills.
Gaby Zakuani (on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire): “We mentioned that Hector Kyprianou is getting forward a lot more and he’s arrived at the perfect time.
“A perfect connection at the perfect time.
“He’s had his critics earlier on in the season but he’s stepped up to the plate.
“What a fabulous finish!”
PETERBOROUGH DOUBLE THEIR LEAD AT WEMBLEY!
Skipper Hector Kyprianou’s fantastic controlled finish means Birmingham will take a two-goal deficit into the break 🔥 pic.twitter.com/E29hazrPgO
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 13, 2025
Towards the end of the games, Jay Stansfield thought he had become Blues’ second highest scorer in a single season with a poached tap-in, only for the assistant referee to deny him.
He got onto the rebound of a save from Posh keeper Jed Steer but as he netted, it’s ruled out for offside.
Elation turned to devastation for the Birmingham fans in the stands.
Gaby Zakuani (on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire): “Peterborough have been resolute with everything that they have done, very professional and they’ve looked comfortable.
“I thought there would be more of an onslaught in this half. There has been in terms of possession but nothing on goal from Birmingham and that’s because Posh have been so good. The centre-halves have been excellent.”
An entire 11 minutes of injury time was added on, with Birmingham hoping it they could get themselves back in it and to potential take it to extra time.
Glenn Speller (BBC Sport England at Wembley): “Some Birmingham fans have started to drift away.
“They came to celebrate winning the League One title and expected to make it a double but it’s all gone wrong.
“Peterborough have been magnificent with their game plan.
“They have hit Blues time and again on the break and given them very little to feed off in terms of clear-cut chances.
“Posh are on the verge of history as the first side to retain this trophy and Darren Ferguson will become the first manager to win it three times.”
Harley Mills to Sky Sports: “The ref just kept adding time on! The boys dug in, we really wanted the clean sheet and the scenes are just brilliant.
“I fancied myself and once you argue over it you have to back it up and thankfully I did so I’m buzzing.
“Once I scored i wanted to make sure I was part of a winning final. I was here last year and it was unbelievable. To retain it for the first time ever is unbelievable for us.”
A marvellous Ryan Allsop double save keeps the Peterborough lead at 2-0… 🧤
But could the Posh have had a penalty in the build-up? pic.twitter.com/XbmgrCxyfa
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 13, 2025
Jay Stansfield has the ball in the Peterborough net but it’s chalked off for offside! ❌ pic.twitter.com/ihZqNeLjaq
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 13, 2025
What are Tom Wagner and Tom Brady saying to the Birmingham City players here? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/MPZnQVbQDP
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 13, 2025
Lukas Jutkiewicz forces a blinder of a save from Jed Steer! 😲
(anyone know what year it is? 😅) pic.twitter.com/oFr7pJTTDy
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 13, 2025
Wembley erupts as Peterborough United RETAIN their Vertu Trophy title 🎇
It’s all kicking off on the pitch between the Posh and the League One champions Birmingham City 😬 pic.twitter.com/o8DH5xFtix
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 13, 2025
PETERBOROUGH UNITED RETAIN THE 2025 VERTU TROPHY! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/cwPVsTpNAg
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 13, 2025
Fans reacted to the two outstanding finishes which sees Peterborough stun Birmingham to win the 2025 EFL Trophy Final…
@1olliejones: The first time was nice, we had to do it twice. Congratulations to all involved at Posh 🏆🏆 #pufc
@oftenpartizan: Well done 👏👏👏. Obviously I’m gutted but You deserved that. tactically You had it spot on. Pleased for Barry god bless him 👏👏👏👏
@BCFC_Cory: Fair play to Peterborough thought they played really well, but fuck me the ref was shite 🤣🤣 oh well wasn’t meant to be , now focus on the points record #bcfc UTFB 💙💙 #kro
@heyit5sam: Got a lot of time for posh fans. Massive play off hangover this season but good fan base, good owners, good management. Done a job on Birmingham. You’ll bounce back next season, challenging where you expect to be challenging. Enjoy your Wembley win
@DanMiller95: If you’ve never lost at wembley.. 😍😍 #pufc
@festive_50: Fuck off #bcfc. All the money but shit #pufc
@zakbrownz: Something quite satisfying seeing a league one team spend £30m and not do the double. Today football won and well played #Theposh #PUFC enjoy your cup win 👏👏👏
@BigGingerBosh: #BCFC HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA wankers crying wankers where are you now #pufc
@bradderz2212: Fucking incredible! Get in there!! #PUFC
@Lee_Hodgkinson: For all the shit that Fergie and @DMAC102 have had for a season they’re disappointed with…what an achievement to back to back at Wembley and upset the money boys of L1. Every clubs fans want a Wembley win in their lifetime. 2 on the spin is class 👏👏👏👏👏⚽️ 🏆 #PUFC
@harptaro: Disappointing that we didn’t turn up today of all days, but fair play and congrats to #pufc, they thoroughly deserved that. Disappointed but it’s not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, there’ll be bigger fish to fry in the future. #KRO #bcfc
@briandick: So disappointing but fair play to Peterborough, a very good performance in a big game and two outstanding goals. Well deserved. Hope Barry enjoys it. #bcfc #pufc
@JeffriesTom: Ungracious fuckers at the final whistle. Hope they absolutely rot at the bottom of the champ next season. Up the bloody posh. Brilliant performance from every single player. #pufc
@jpkesseler: Peterborough deserve this. Countered us superbly, stopped us from having any real opportunities on goal apart from Juke’s chance. Congrats. #bcfc #pufc
@tdog1410: Well done the posh a result for all real football clubs today. American franchise football 0 v English football 2
@CazParker1871: Stick that in your documentary. Well done Posh congratulations!
@carlbcfccb13: Got what we deserved , just played sideways in front of them . Created nothing all game apart from couple half chances. Didn’t have a plan b just continued to hope and create something Not helped by some appalling individual performances. #bcfc
fair play that is a quality comeback #pufc #bcfc pic.twitter.com/S1Cpxufpph
— 🏴 (@milldogs4) April 13, 2025
