Hull City are heading to Wembley after a brilliant 2-0 triumph over Millwall in their Championship play-off semi-final second leg at The Den.
It was the substitutes who made all the difference for the Tigers, with Mo Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt both finding the net after coming off the bench.
The victory sets up a final on Saturday 23 May, where Hull will take on either Southampton or Middlesbrough for a spot in the top flight.
Sergej Jakirovic’s side finished a full 10 points behind third-placed Millwall during the regular season, making this result all the more impressive.
Hull defeated Millwall 2-0 to put themselves within one match of promotion to the Premier League
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The deadlock in the tie was finally shattered in the 64th minute when Belloumi produced a moment of magic.
Matt Crooks picked him out, and the Algerian cut inside before curling a stunning effort that kissed the far post on its way in.
It was a goal that had been coming, with Hull well on top throughout the second half.
Belloumi wasn’t even supposed to start, mind you. Jakirovic had planned to rest him after an injury kept him out of training, bringing him on fresh for the second period.
But when Kyle Joseph went down injured in the first half, those plans changed quickly.
Then came the moment that truly killed the contest.
Sergej Jakirovic’s decision to switch it up paid immediate dividends with his subs getting on the scoresheet
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Gelhardt had barely been on the pitch a minute when he found himself in the perfect position. Belloumi was at the heart of it again, charging forward on the counter before sliding a pass across the box.
The substitute showed remarkable composure, striking a low shot that somehow squirmed through Anthony Patterson’s grasp and over the line.
The travelling Hull fans behind that goal went absolutely wild.
“There is no headache, from day one every player is important and has an impact,” Jakirovic said when asked about his selection dilemma for the final.
Hull’s journey to this point has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Hull went from the brink of League One to Championship play-off finalists in a wild 12 months
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Just last season, they survived relegation on the final day. This campaign, they’ve been operating under a transfer embargo.
They weren’t even in the play-off places when the final day of the regular season kicked off.
Now they’re one match away from Premier League football for the first time since 2017 – having even dropped down to League One in the years since.
The Tigers have also become the first sixth-placed team in seven years to win their semi-final, and they boast a perfect record in Championship play-offs, having won promotion this way in 2007-08 and 2015-16.
