League One Play-off Semi-Final Leg 2
MK Dons 0 Scunthorpe 0 (after extra-time; 1-1 on aggregate; Scunthorpe win 7-6 on penalties.)
Going into the second leg all square following a 1-1 draw at Glanford Park, The Dons were favourites to book their spot against Millwall in the final.
Ex-Blue and Irons 30-goal top scorer Matt Hooper was declared unfit to play before the game with a groin injury.
It was the home side who did most of the pressing, but Scunny stood firm with some strong defending to force the game all the way to penalties.
However, it was Garry Thompson who should have opened the scoring for the visitors when put through clear on goal. He cut inside defender Stirling but his touch then failed him and allowed Miguel Angel Llera to slide in and tackle with Franchise keeper Willy Gueret gathering the loose ball.
Dons Jason Puncheon missed arguably the best chance during normal time, slamming an indirect against the outside of the post from 10 yards after Scunthorpe had been adjudged to have committed an illegal backpass.
Former Manchester United man Luke Chadwick also wasted a golden chance when it opened up for him late on, but he could only shoot straight at the keeper.
Into extra-time with all to play for and it was Scunthorpe that finished the stronger, Mirfin hitting the post from a yard out when a cross wasn't cleared with a couple of minutes left.
So penalties it was, and skipper Cliff Byrne was first to miss for the Iron, blazing way over the bar, but he did not have to wait long for a reprieve as Puncheon saw the very next kick saved by Joe Murphy.
It went to sudden death and both Matthew Sparrow and Jude Stirling missed, goalkeeper Willy Gueret then scored for The Dons to keep them in it, but then Flo stepped up and hit the woodwork in an agonising climax for Di Matteo's side.
MK Dons: Gueret, Regan, Stirling, Llera, Lewington, Wright (Chadwick 70), Howell (Navarro 17), Leven, Puncheon, Baldock (Flo 109), Wilbraham.
Subs Not Used: Abbey, Cummings.
Booked: Llera.
Scunthorpe: Murphy, Byrne, Crosby, Mirfin, Morris, Sparrow, Trotter, McCann, Woolford (Forte 100), Hayes, Thompson (Togwell 106).
Subs Not Used: Lillis, Pearce, May.
Booked: McCann, Byrne, Murphy.
Att: 14,479
Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).
League One Play-Off Final (at Wembley):
Saturday 24 May 2009, 13.00.
Millwall v Scunthorpe United.