Sasa Ilic hopes to celebrate with Charlton’s players if they beat Sunderland in Sunday’s League One play-off final – 21 years after his Wembley heroics.
The Addicks legend will be cheering on his former club with some of his old team-mates at Wembley this weekend.
Getty
4
Sasa Ilic was Charlton’s hero in their last visit to Wembley
Ilic saved the decisive penalty in a shootout victory over the Black Cats to send his side into the top-flight in 1998.
He revealed he and his team-mates were too exhausted to party into the night following the emotions of the game, which ended in a 4-4 draw, but wants to make up for lost time with Charlton’s current stars.
Ilic told talkSPORT: “You tend to remember the feelings more than the memories.
“It was overwhelming, especially with me coming from nowhere, knocking on Charlton’s door and within 12 months playing at Wembley and saving the decisive penalty.
“I just hope Charlton will have the same result as we did 21 years ago.
“During the shootout, we were scoring, they were scoring, so it got to a point where I said ‘what can I do to make a save?’
Getty
4
Charlton will be hoping to overcome Sunderland in a play-off final once again
“I saw a 10p coin and I flicked it for a couple of penalties and for the one that I saved, it landed on heads which was me diving to my left, and fortunately for me, it was the right decision. And the rest was history.
“If somebody had watched us from afar [at the hotel], they would’ve thought we’d lost the game.
“We were so mentally and physically drained, so once we got to the hotel, we all sat down, there were a few speeches, we had a meal and a couple of drinks, but we were all exhausted. I was in bed by 11pm!
Getty
4
The Charlton players celebrated wildly after Ilic’s match-winning penalty save
“We celebrated when we had the tour bus around Greenwich, Charlton and Blackheath, but I don’t think we ever got together to specifically celebrate that victory on that day.
“On the day we were supposed to celebrate, we were all pretty much exhausted to do that.
“But maybe we can do it on Sunday if Charlton win, and join the two teams together.”
Ilic, who owns a boutique hotel called the Monte Bay Retreat in Montenegro, made 62 appearances for Charlton between 1997 and 2002.
LIVE ON talkSPORT
talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...
- England Women vs Denmark Women (Saturday, 1pm) – talkSPORT
- Newport County vs Tranmere (Saturday, 3pm) – talkSPORT
- Charlton vs Sunderland (Sunday, 3pm) – talkSPORT
And after Doncaster’s Tommy Rowe put his penalty wide to book Charlton’s place in the play-off final last Friday, Ilic bought a plane ticket to London ‘two minutes after the game’.
He said: “I watched the game and I was very confident Charlton would win.
“I was on the internet booking my flight to London, but as the game progressed Doncaster scored and then there was a penalty shootout.
“I could barely watch it, but luckily for us, we won and now it’s up to the final. I booked my flight immediately, literally two minutes after the game.
“Charlton have confirmed tickets for us ex-pros and we’ll be going.
Getty
4
Charlton will need their talisman Lyle Taylor on top of his game on Sunday
“I had a brief word with [my old Charlton team-mate] Steve Brown and [former Addicks assistant] Keith Peacock, but I’m looking forward to catching up with everybody on Sunday. We’ll have a nice little reunion.”
Charlton goalkeeper Dillon Phillips denied 26-goal striker John Marquis in their shootout victory over Doncaster.
Phillips has established himself as the Addicks’ No.1 this season, helping them record the second meanest defence in League One.
LATEST FOOTBALL NEWS
gossip
Transfer news LIVE: Hazard on joining Real Madrid, Sessegnon to leave Fulham
gossip
Chelsea transfer news live: Hazard addresses Blues fans following Real Madrid move
ALLEZ LES BLEUES
France sweep aside South Korea in opening match of 2019 Women's World Cup
PRICELESS POINT
Late Duffy header keeps Ireland unbeaten in Euro 2020 qualifying campaign
DEAL DONE
Real Madrid confirm Eden Hazard signing to end long-running transfer saga
THANK YOU
These Chelsea fans pour their hearts out for 'true legend' Eden Hazard
in the money
Hazard joins Real Madrid and will reportedly double his wages
LET'S GO
Women's World Cup opening ceremony: The best pictures from the party in Paris
ALL SEEMS REAL
Hazard shirts spotted at Real Madrid shop - number he will wear revealed
Protest
Why Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg is not playing for Norway at the World Cup
Ilic has been impressed by the 23-year-old’s performances and wants Lee Bowyer’s men to enjoy the club’s first trip to the new Wembley.
He added: “It was a very good penalty save. He’s a very decent goalkeeper. He looks the part, definitely. Fingers crossed he’ll do the same on Sunday.
“The advice I’d give to the players is to thoroughly enjoy the moment because it’s not every day you get to play at Wembley in a crucial game like the play-off final.
“My advice would be to leave their heart and their soul on the pitch, try their very best and whatever the outcome, try to enjoy the day.”
The League One play-off final between Charlton and Sunderland is LIVE on talkSPORT on 26 May at 3pm.
Charlton vs Sunderland play-off final: Sasa Ilic will be at Wembley 21 years after his heroics - and wants promotion party he never had Sasa Ilic hopes to celebrate with Charlton's players if they beat Sunderland in Sunday's League One play-off final - 21 years after his Wembley heroics. talkSPORT 2 days ago
Charlton v Sunderland 1998: The greatest play-off final ever
Charlton vs S'land: Play-off final preview; Schoolmate and close friend Michael Gray missed the decisive penalty in the shoot-out for Peter Reid's men, after Mendonca had scored his spot-kick
News list for charlton vs sunderland play-off final sasa ilic will be at wembley 21 years after his heroics / Sasa Ilic hopes to celebrate with Charlton 's players if they beat Sunderland in Sunday's League One play-off final - 21 years after his Wembley heroics.
Charlton vs Sunderland: Michael Gray and Sasa Ilic reunited
Charlton vs Sunderland play-off final: Sasa Ilic will be at
Michael Gray and Sasa Ilic were reunited on talkSPORT. just days before the repeat of the 1998 First Division play-off final between Charlton and Sunderland takes place. Ilic saved the decisive penalty from Gray in a shootout victory of Sunderland as the Addicks won promotion to the top-flight.
Charlton v Sunderland 1998: The greatest play-off final ever
Charlton vs Sunderland play-off final: Sasa Ilic will be at Wembley 21 years after his heroics - and wants promotion party he never had The League One play-off final between Charlton and
~ Charlton vs Sunderland play-off final: Sasa Ilic will be at
Charlton vs Sunderland play-off final: Sasa Ilic will be at Wembley 21 years after his heroics - and wants promotion party he never had by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 23 May
Charlton vs Sunderland: Michael Gray and Sasa Ilic reunited
Charlton vs Sunderland play-off final: Sasa Ilic will be at Wembley 21 years after his heroics - and wants promotion party he never had Sasa Ilic hopes to celebrate with Charlton's players if they beat Sunderland in Sunday's League One play-off final - 21 years after his Wembley heroics. talkSPORT 1 week ago
Charlton vs Sunderland: The story behind the 1998 play-off
Charlton and Sunderland meet in League One play-off final 21 years after last clash at Wembley It was an incredible game that included a hat-trick, extra-time and a penalty shootout
News list for charlton vs sunderland play-off final sasa ilic
Charlton vs Sunderland play-off final: Sasa Ilic will be at Wembley 21 years after his heroics - and wants promotion party he never had fpnews May 23, 2019 0 Sasa Ilic hopes to celebrate with Charlton's players if they beat Sunderland in Sunday's League One play-off final - 21 years after his Wembley heroics.
Charlton vs Sunderland play-off final: Sasa Ili | SportSpyder
Charlton Athletic and Sunderland meet in the League One play-off final on Sunday, a match-up which brings back memories of a Wembley classic. The Addicks and the Black Cats shared eight goals on a sunny May day in 1998 in the Division One (second tier) play-off final, with Charlton striker Clive Mendonca scoring a hat-trick in a stunning 4-4 draw.
Clive Mendonca reflects on Charlton's 1998 play-off win over
No comments:
Post a Comment