Monday, May 29, 2017

Huddersfield 0 Reading 0 (4-3 pens); Huddersfield seal £200m jackpot to join Premier League with Championship play-off final win

Huddersfield sealed a £200million jackpot and promotion to the Premier League with a tense penalty shootout win against Huddersfield in the Championship playoff final this afternoon.

Nearly 77,000 fans packed Wembley to watch the extremely nervy affair as the Terriers kept their cool from the spot and booked their place in the top flight for next season.

A minute’s silence before kick-off was impeccably observed and there was applause in the 22nd minute at Wembley to remember the victims of the Manchester terror attack.
    Huddersfield started brightly, and Michael Hefele should have scored after five minutes when Aaron Mooy swung in a free kick and the unmarked German defender somehow headed wide from five yards out.

    Latest possible contender for miss of the season: Elias Kachunga forced his way down the right and squared for Izzy Brown who missed an open goal from a yard out. Surely Izzier to score than miss.
    Manchester United fans knew all about the Dutch philosophy under Louis Van Gaal: lots of possession but going nowhere. That was Reading in the first half.
    Better from Swift at the start of the second half. He combined with George Evans and timed his run well to burst into the box, but his shot was straight at keeper Danny Ward.


 £200million or £20 at stake, there weren't any nerves shown by any of the players; it was simply a case of some real poor quality on show in the most lucrative game in world football.
    Reading pushed for the winner with Chris Gunther raiding down the right but Hefele was there with superb block just before Yann Kermogant could pounce.
    Referee Neil Swarbrick nearly had his Yorkshire pass revoked when he failed blow when Van La Parra was fouled. Gareth McCleary found Royals skipper Chris Gunther whose poor header sailed over the bar.
    The first period of extra time was as depressing as the Tiger Woods mugshot doing the rounds on social media.

    Nakhi Wells should have won it in the second period when sub Kasey Palmer found him in the box. A great turn and control, but the striker screwed a tame shot wide.

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