Luton edged previous Wimbledon 1-0 at Kenilworth Road to kick-off the 2025-26 season in League One and throughout England.
It was a good, attritional contest settled by a late personal purpose from Ryan Johnson, sparing the house facet’s blushes after a irritating night in entrance of purpose.
The opening half was cagey, with neither facet managing to say dominance. Luton loved the majority of possession however struggled to penetrate a well-drilled Wimbledon backline.
Nahki Wells supplied the primary actual menace for the hosts within the twenty fifth minute, wriggling free within the field just for his left-footed shot to be blocked by a retreating defender.
Moments later, George Saville’s teasing free-kick discovered Christ Makosso, however the defender’s header flew excessive and large.
Wimbledon have been content material to sit down deep and play on the counter, recognising that they have been enjoying a group within the Championship final season.
Matty Stevens thought he had timed his run completely within the twenty ninth minute, solely to be flagged offside, one in all a number of irritating moments for the guests.
By half-time, neither goalkeeper had been significantly examined, and the sport remained goalless.
The second half adopted the same sample as Luton’s midfield tried to dictate play whereas Wimbledon grew in confidence.
Reuell Walters pressured Nathan Bishop right into a low save from distance simply after the hour mark – the primary effort on the right track of the night – however nonetheless, clear probabilities have been scarce.
As the sport entered its closing 20 minutes, each managers seemed to their benches in the hunt for a breakthrough.
Luton boss Matt Bloomfield rotated closely, introducing Lamine Fanne, Zack Nelson, and later Shandon Baptiste and Cauley Woodrow.
For Wimbledon, Johnnie Jackson responded with adjustments of his personal, bringing on Danilo Orsi and Antwoine Hackford to clean up their assault.
The impasse was lastly damaged within the eighty fifth minute in merciless trend for the guests.
After a spell of sustained stress, a harmful Luton supply into the field triggered confusion, and Ryan Johnson, below stress, inadvertently turned the ball into his personal web, giving the Hatters the lead they’d been pushing for.
The purpose sparked a frantic finale. Shandon Baptiste got here near doubling Luton’s benefit shortly after, driving a low effort simply previous the put up.
At the opposite finish, Wimbledon launched one final push in stoppage time. Nathan Asiimwe lashed a speculative effort from the sting of the field however may solely watch it sail excessive and large.
That proved to be the ultimate act of the competition, as Luton held on to safe all three factors.
For Luton, this win might not have been a spectacle, however it was an enormous first step in the direction of solidifying their promotion ambitions this season.
While the Hatters lacked attacking fluency for big durations, they in the end discovered a approach by courtesy of a stroke of luck.
