He’s not just great with his hands! Torquay keeper Cavolan Cavagnari scores injury-time header to equalise against Hartlepool in National League play-off final, before saving two penalties in shootout… but his side STILL miss out on promotion
- Torquay goalkeeper Cavolan Cavagnari scored the equaliser in play-off final
- Hartlepool were in front but Cavagnari headed in during last minute of the game
- Goal sparked wild celebrations among Torquay players and fans at Ashton Gate
- Cavagnari saved two penalties in shootout but Hartlepool earned promotion
- Hartlepool won 5-4 on penalties with game having finished 1-1 after extra time
Torquay goalkeeper Cavolan Cavagnari scored an incredibly dramatic stoppage time equaliser against Hartlepool in the National League play-off final.
Hartlepool sealed their return to the English Football League after four years away despite a dramatic stoppage-time strike from Covolan threatening to derail their quest to succeed.
Despite Cavagnari’s best efforts – which included saving two penalties in the shoot-out – Torquay missed out on promotion.
Torquay goalkeeper Cavolan Cavagnari scored a late equaliser in the National League play-off
Cavagnari rose highest in stoppage time but his team ended up missing out on promotion
Hartlepool celebrate at Ashton Gate after they managed to secure promotion to League Two
With the game in the fifth minute of stoppage time at the end of the second half, Hartlepool were leading 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Luke Armstrong and it looked as if they were going to secure victory.
Cavagnari, however, had other ideas, with the Brazilian shot-stopper latching onto a free-kick to head in and spark wild celebrations at Ashton Gate, with the game heading into extra-time.
Hartlepool goalkeeper Brad James attempted to intervene but was unable to get to the ball before Cavagnari.
Just eight minutes in Torquay looked to have gone ahead through Cameron, but Pools keeper Brad James had been impeded.
Rhys Oates – with 18 goals in all competitions this season – sparked Pools into life by driving forward and troubling Covolan with a low shot that proved tricky to smother.
Armstrong almost notched when connecting with Gavan Holohan’s effort, but the Gulls cleared only for the Salford loanee to come close again with a header that Covolan palmed away.
In the 36th minute, Armstrong did break through for Pools, collecting Oates’ rebound effort and blasting home off the crossbar.
The Gulls were brighter in the second half and just before the hour mark Cameron again had the ball in the net.
However, another foul on keeper James meant that goal was chalked off too; the quest for a leveller continued and few fans would have guessed from where or whom it would eventually come in the last minute of normal time.
Remarkably, Covolan – a former team-mate of Liverpool’s own keeper-turned-scorer Alisson Becker – followed a fine display in goal by delivering at the other end.
He raced into the Pools box for a Torquay corner, which was cleared, but when the ball was lumped back forward from deep on the right, Covolan rose to nod past James, stunning leggy Pools and forcing them to play 30 more minutes.
Cavagnari also saved two penalties in the shootout but it was Hartlepool who were promoted
Hartlepool ended up prevailing, with Matt Buse’s penalty being kept out by Brad James
Shell-shocked, Hartlepool survived the first period without further damage, although Torquay did lose Jake Andrews to a nasty-looking injury, and while Pools pushed harder across the final 15, penalties could not be avoided.
Four straight misses got nerves jangling until six straight spot-kicks were converted and sudden death was required.
After Ryan Donaldson scored for Pools, Torquay’s Matt Buse saw his effort pushed on to the bar by James, confirming promotion for Dave Challinor’s men and banishing memories of Covolan’s sucker punch.
Hartlepool players hold the trophy aloft as they celebrate their famous win with the fans
Thousands of Hartlepool supporters stormed the pitch after their promotion was confirmed
