Yahoo News Huddersfield 0 Reading 0 (4-3 on pens): Danny Ward the shootout hero as Town win Premier League payday
That “Terrier Spirit”, that “No Limits” mentality and, now, that Premier League club.
Huddersfield Town gained promotion to the promised land for the first time in 45 years and did so by giving this most non-descript of Championship play-off finals the most wonderful of scripts.
They won in a shoot-out, again, beating Reading 4-3 after extra-time and after 120 minutes of increasingly-attritional, chance-free football. But, then, there cannot be any surprise that a team with such a strong German influence – from the manager, David Wagner, to five players - won in a penalty shoot-out.
It was, of course, a German, Christopher Schindler, who had to score the decisive spot-kick and with it deliver the most lucrative stroke of a ball in the history of football.
There were no goals – the first time a Championship play-off final has finished goalless since the format was introduced in 1987 - but there is the ultimate goal. The big prize. A guaranteed £170 million for winning the richest game in world football and now being up there with the big boys. But way beyond that there is the realisation of a sporting dream.
Huddersfield will be a brilliant Premier League addition with their desire to play front-foot football, their clear identity and, unquestionably, their supporters who cavorted with the players long after the final whistle and made a wall of believing noise throughout. They are a team. On and off the pitch.
The club’s admirable owner, Dean Hoyle, was a study in emotion, the cameras cutting to him regularly as the teams cancelled each other out on the pitch, and when Schindler coolly rolled the ball into the net the chairman melted in a crumpled heap of relief and emotion; above all, raw, unchecked emotion.
A good owner, a great heritage, a wonderful spirit, raucous, pulsating fans and a heavy-metal manager in Wagner, Huddersfield deserve this and it is hard to put into words just how magnificent an achievement it is for the self-styled “Yorkshire Club”.
But here are a few facts. Having not finished higher than 16th in the Championship, where they had the fourth-lowest wage bill of less than £10 million, since promotion in 2012, they only narrowly avoided relegation last season after Wagner took over midway through. But such was the faith in him that he was awarded a new contract and the “Wagner Revolution” took off.
“It proves you don’t have to blow your brains to get promoted,” Hoyle said. “It’s a crazy world. Reading lost on penalties and that’s really cruel. The prize is big and I feel for them. It’s our turn. We deserve it because of the way we have done it. We can give lots of people hope, smaller clubs that keep believing, you can achieve the impossible.”
Huddersfield had finished fifth, their highest position since relegation from the first division in 1972, with Reading third, but the winners were the better team here. Quite how equipped they are for the Premier League remains to be seen given their two most talented players – Aaron Mooy and Izzy Brown - are on loan from Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, while goalkeeper Danny Ward, who made such a vital save in that shoot-out from Jordan Obita, has also been borrowed from Liverpool. Ward also saved two penalties in the semi-final shoot-out win over Sheffield Wednesday.
But that concern can wait, at least one night, as can the fact that the last three Championship play-off winners have all gone straight back down. First - after 10 gruelling months, after 49 hard-fought games - time to party.
The three best chances fell to Huddersfield. Astonishingly, given what then unfolded, they should have been two goals up inside 10 minutes.
The first arrived when Michael Hefele was allowed to reach Mooy’s free-kick but steered his header wastefully wide. Then there was a real sitter as Elias Kachunga crossed low for Brown, at the far post, who only had to tap the ball into the net, but the 20-year-old sent it horribly wide from just a yard out.
The fear was that that would be the story. That Brown’s miss would claim the headlines and haunt him while the game unfolded with Huddersfield sitting unusually deep, rather than pressing, as they paid due respect to Reading’s ability to keep possession.
Unfortunately, it became somewhat turgid. The tension grew as the play began to shrink. Maybe there was too much at stake. Maybe, and let us be honest, there was too little quality, for as well as Huddersfield have done to get this far then so have Reading who struggled before Jaap Stam took over, flirting with relegation themselves last season, and have hardly been big-spenders.
The fact that, for all the clever work of Yann Kermogant, and the creativity provided by Garath McCleary when he came on, it was Huddersfield who continued to make the running meant the result was justified. Substitute Colin Quaner hacked wide and then, deep into extra-time, the ball fell to Nahki Wells who was simply too tired and dragged a mis-hit shot.
So it went to the shoot-out with the advantage going to Reading after Hefele missed as goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi saved. Would that be the story? A German missing in the shoot-out? Instead, it was Huddersfield who held their nerve as Liam Moore blazed over and Ward blocked from Obita.
Finally it was Schindler’s chance with Wagner revealing the defender demanded to take the fifth kick just as he planned to turn to another Chelsea loanee, Kasey Palmer.
“We said no limits and now we know what our limits are – the Premier League,” Wagner said, glowingly. Every dog has its day and this was one for the Terriers.
Music in the stadium
Why do stadium DJs feel the need to play songs after a moment like this? It's the biggest thing to happen - ever - to Huddersfield and they're playing Radio One forgettable pop nonsense. Let the fans sing!
Reading players in bits
The poor guys. Some/most are on the ground, face down. Williams is in tears. Patrick Stewart is delighted.
Danny Ward is the shootout hero again.
HUDDERSFIELD ARE IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
THEY'VE DONE IT! SCHINDLER SCORES!
Huddersfield 3- 3 Reading
WARD SAVES! WHAT A SAVE! Obita is gutted! He can't believe it! Bottom right, Ward guesses and blocks superbly!
Huddersfield can win with this next pen!
Huddersfield 3- 3 Reading
OVER THE BAR! Oh no! Liam Moore leans back as he shoots and clips the top of the bar!
Mooy can level the scores with this one... AND HE DOES! Mooy hooks the ball into the bottom left.
Huddersfield 2- 3 Reading
WOOF. Liam Kelly absolutely launches his penalty into the roof of the net.
Huge moment. Wells steps up and SCORES! Placed into the bottom right - no chance for the keeper.
Huddersfield 1 - 2 Reading
So cool. Danny Williams steps up and passes his shot straight down the middle. Ward is annoyed with himself because he dives out of the way the ball - his legs are inches away from it as he launches to his left.
AND HEFELE HAS MISSED! He approaches slowly and might as well tell the keeper where he's going. Great save.
Huddersfield 1 - 1 Reading
Kermorgant is first. There's a long pause as he stares down the goal... and slams his effort into the bottom left corner. Ward guesses the right way but can't get close.
Chris Lowe is first for Huddersfield and looks nervous as he steps up... but he scores! Bottom left. Well taken.
Reading to go first
Here we go! Reading will take the first penalty and it'll be towards the Huddersfield end.
Huddersfield 0 - 0 Reading
3 - Reading have lost three of their last five penalty shootouts in all competitions. Nervy.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 29, 2017
And remember the team to go first has a statistical advantage in shootouts. There's about a 10 per cent swing in favour to the team who shoots first.
END OF ADDED TIME
It's a decent delivery from the free-kick but straight out for a goal-kick. And now we have penalties!
ET 30 mins
The tension is building as Huddersfield play around the final third but nobody has the energy - or is brave enough - to make a run and gamble on Mooy's cross into the box. The break looks to be on for a few seconds but an attempted ball over the top is headed away at the last minute.
Huddersfield have a free-kick wide right and this will be the last opportunity of the game. Big moment.
ET 27 mins
Wow. Wells is so close to winning promotion there... shooting just wide of the far post with Huddersfield's first chance of the last... ages. It's a quick counter-attack and perhaps justice has been served, as two Huddersfield players were offside in the build-up. The linesman must be tired too.
ET 26 mins
Gunter wins a free-kick near the touchline as Hogg bangs into him and this should be Reading's biggest chance of the... last 70 minutes or so. Hogg is on a yellow card and lucky not to have been shown a second after his last two little fouls.
ET 24 mins
We're getting closer to penalties now. Danny Ward saved two in the semi-final...
ET 21 mins
Hogg steps across his man and breaks up a counter-attack in the centre-circle. Reading take their time with the ball before passing it directly out of play for a goal kick.
ET 18 mins
Reading come forward, it's well defended, Huddersfield take their turn to think about maybe trying to do a goal. Obita hits the side netting with a cross from the right.
KICK-OFF 4
At the Championship play-off final where neither team will score. No way. Not even in the shoot-out..
— Jason Burt (@JBurtTelegraph) May 29, 2017
Tired players
"They're in a hard place right now. It's been tough physically" says Keith Andrews. He used to play for Wolves.
ET HALF TIME
McCleary drags a shot wide from 20 yards, using the spark of energy he still has (having been a sub) to move the ball onto his left and then hitting it while in space.
Other than that the game has continued to be dreadful.
ET 15 mins
Reading are attacking at walking speed. It's painful to watch. Both sides have run out of energy and now just don't want to lose.
ET 13 mins
A clash of heads forces the referee to pause play for a while, Hefele coming off far worse from a 50/50 and landing awkwardly on his wrist. He seems to be up and alright again though now.
On this display, both of these teams would get an absolute hiding in the Premier League.
ET 10 mins
Swift off, Kelly on. That makes sense. Swift looks knackered.
ET 9 mins
Izzy Brown off, Kasey Palmer on. Everyone else is tired - could this be his moment?
ET 6 mins
Urgh. Swift takes the ball to feet, spins his man and then falls to the ground like that video of the people who can't quite finish the marathon. Then Swift passes the ball straight out of play for a throw-in. Tired legs and tired minds do not a promotion warrant.
Swift has now passed it straight to the goalkeeper.
ET 3 mins
Huddersfield win a corner. Yaaaaaaay! Which part of out of bounds might this one end up in? Let's find out. Mooy takes it, an out-swinger from the right... and hits it low to the corner of the six yard box. HOOF! Throw in.
On the touchline news: "Stam was pressing on his players that Reading's energy is running out and they need to pass the ball quicker" says Sky Sports pitch-side man.
KICK-OFF 3
"It's been cagey, we need a hero!" says the commentator on Sky Sports as we prepare to be made to watch even more of this troubled variation on football. This has all the signs of one of those games that denies us the thrill of penalties with a last minute header from a corner.
END OF 90 MINUTES
Somebody kill this game. Neither side has the ability or is willing to gamble on going all out for the win and so here we remain, trapped in a never-ending scoreless draw. Extra-time might bring some action.
90 mins +6
Honestly I don't know what Huddersfield expect to happen when they win the ball in the final third and then everybody stays completely still. Nobody to cross to, nowhere to pass... and so it's a goal kick.
90 mins +4
Reading win the ball in the centre-circle by fouling a Huddersfield player but it's OK because the header which ends the following move is placed way over the bar. Again, nowhere near good enough.
90 mins +2
Aaron Mooy has summarised the entire game with that corner. Huddersfield attack quickly and show a flash of skill to create something on the left wing, Mooy punts his corner straight out for a goal kick. Awful. I'm angry about how bad that corner was.
90 mins
This game has been really poor. The first 20 minutes were decent but since then it has been dreadful. There's a real lack of quality on the pitch, nothing is really happening, Reading are defending deep and preventing Huddersfield from playing, Reading are then not good enough going forward to create.
88 mins
Martin Cranie comes on for the injured Tommy Smith.
87 mins
Smith is on the floor receiving treatment on an injured leg. He owns the leg - it's not one he's found - but the Huddersfield captain may well have to go off. The physio isn't quite sure what to do with him... but here come some more medical staff and a stretcher. He's sitting up and seems OK but this obviously isn't a great one.
84 mins
Stam going full Partridge. 'I'll get him later'. pic.twitter.com/YjPmzPJeiB
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) May 29, 2017
82 mins
Still no goals but both teams do seem to be considering trying to change that. Reading win a corner as Hefele blocks a cross and gives away a corner... which is headed away... and then curled back into the box. Llori is... all of a sudden he's in space on his own! He doesn't know what to do and just lets the ball bounce off his chest. Corner again. This time Ward punches clear.
79 mins
If a play-off final stays goalless, the prize money should start going down, like in a game show.
— Jonathan Liew (@jonathanliew) May 29, 2017
78 mins
Great attack by Huddersfield. Mooy is away down the right, tricks his way past the left back and has options in the area to pass to to set up a clear goal scoring chance. He finds Wells, who stumbles and fires well over the bar. Huddersfield have stepped up the pressure.
75 mins
Another Reading substitution - Grabban off, McCleary on. That happens seconds after Brown hits an easy pass straight out of play for a throw-in as Huddersfield spoil another counter-attack.
73 mins
The break is on, Reading attack quickly and move the ball wide as strikers sprint towards the box. The cross comes in from the right... but it's blocked at the near post in the six yard box - great ball in, too - and now Huddersfield can attack. But Van la Parr's attempted cross is rubbish and the goalkeeper catches it easily.
71 mins
Wells is clever as he turns his back on a tackle he knows his coming and then goes down, again looking for the free-kick. I think Huddersfield may have been told to look for free-kicks around the area during the half-time break.
Mooy stands over the set piece... but Wells hits it... straight into someone's face in the wall. Throw in!
68 mins
BREAKING NEWS: the director has just found Sir Patrick Stewart in the crowd.
67 mins
Van den Berg isn't happy about being taken off but it seems a wise decision by Jaap Stam - he's on a yellow card and doesn't seem the calmest man on the pitch. It only takes one rash action to totally influence the shape of this game to come.
Huddersfield players keep looking for free-kicks that aren't free-kicks. It's annoying.
Kachunga is very angry that he is being substituted. On comes Collin Quaner in his place, as he takes his place on the subs bench after punching a chair.
64 mins
Hefele goes down in the box as Van den Berg swings at the ball and maybe, slightly catches his foot but it's never a penalty and he should be made to walk through the village in daylight wearing a placard that admits he is definitely "at it".
First substitute coming up: Van den Berg goes off and is replaced by Jordan Obita.
62 mins
Izzy Brown has been impressive today, if we ignore the miss from the first half (which was unfortunate anyway). He's drifting around the space between the striker and the defensive midfielders, filling gaps where needed and providing a threat through the middle. Van La Parra has a few tricks too and Reading clearly hate it when he starts running with the ball. He's just won a corner.
59 mins
Huddersfield are sat back waiting for Reading to hand them the ball so they can counter-attack but Stam's team have loads of players back defending just in case that happens. Reading have the majority of possession but just can't seem to create any chance to score at the moment.
56 mins
Wasted corner by Reading as a the ball is played to the edge of the box and is hooked well over the bar with an ambitious, stretching leg.
Whichever of these teams gets promoted, they need to get better. Lots of loose passes, ambitious long balls to nobody - not a huge amount of quality on show.
53 mins
Kachunga is pulled back as he jinks past a tackle on the right and his pass is poor as a result but the referee doesn't seem to think that's a foul and Reading are able to get the ball away.
Reading are trying to control the tempo of the game, slowing it down and taking the bite out of Huddersfield's pressing. There's a beautiful little bit of skill by Van La Parra to drag the ball behind his standing leg but Reading players literally hold him back to prevent the counter.
50 mins
Brown tries a couple of little skills in the area and Wells follows his lead... as a crunching tackle comes in and takes the ball off him. That could easily have gone wrong!
48 mins
Lowe has a shot in the first 45 seconds, hitting a swerving, dipping effort from 25 yards which the goalie is never really particularly worried about.
Reading look like they're going to be patient in this half... or are they? Here comes the attack... Evans breaks forward, gets to the box and shoots... Ward saves! Huddersfield get it away.
KICK-OFF 2
We're back! Or the players are at least. The corporate fans and a lot of supporters are still away from their seats getting refreshments as the second half starts.
A handy guide
The best article ever written. pic.twitter.com/D27PUDiZ9w
— James (@JamesLUFC) May 28, 2017
The story so far
Huddersfield started that one on fire but the initial blitz has failed to produce the goal they hoped it would. Reading are growing into the game and look like they're patiently waiting for Huddersfield to run themselves into the ground and then punish the tired legs. I'd imagine Wagner will get his players all revved up at half time and go for another all out attack 10 minutes before dropping back and back to the counter-attack.
HALF TIME
Great game so far, although it has calmed down towards the end of the first half. Reading finish the first 45 minutes by taking a corner which Huddersfield head away. It's very equal here.
45 mins
Two minutes of added time to come in this half, Reading are passing the ball around but Huddersfield look like they're recoiled and ready to spring at any moment.
43 mins
Reading are opening up the pitch, making it nice and big so that when Huddersfield do hit it long they can absorb the pressure and move the ball quickly sideways.
Van la Parra tries to counter-attack, gets to the opposition half and is then fouled.
40 mins
There are some fairly tasty tackles going on in this game, with strong, aggressive slide challenges the order of the day. None of them seem particularly fueled by anger though and nobody has kicked off yet. Yet.
The pace and tempo of the game has slowed down a little, inevitably, now. Huddersfield hitting the ball long over the top.
37 mins
Huddersfield come forward, Brown tries a shot from distance and wins a corner. That corner goes straight out of play for a goal kick.
34 mins
Reading are enjoying some possession now and have managed to get their defensive line up to the half way point, instead of being 10 yards from their own box. Huddersfield have dropped back into a deeper shape.
31 mins
That's a better photo of Izzy Brown's miss from earlier.
29 mins
Hogg tries to claim that his steaming in to a challenge on Williams isn't a bookable offence but it absolutely is, and the Huddersfield player is given yellow after momentarily seeing red. Metaphorically, I mean.
26 mins
Huddersfield have Reading penned in again and are working the ball from flank to flank before curling crosses into the area. They win another corner but it's headed away well and then llori times his slide tackle well to stop Mooy running into the right channel.
23 mins
Loewe reads the run of Gunter and steps in with a strong challenge to block his path but comes out of it having taken a heavy knock to... I think the leg. He's down having treatment for a while... and is back on his feet now.
20 mins
Booking for Kermorgant as he catches Smith on the halfway line. Huddersfield have control of the pitch at the moment - they play with three at the back when in possession, which means there are a further seven players racing forwards trying to score. Huddersfield win a throw in high up the pitch as another quick attack is hooked out of play.
17 mins
Yellow card and it's about the most obvious booking in the world today. Kachunga absolutely bins Van den Berg with a smart turn (and an aggressive tackle) and to teach him a lesson, Van den Berg launches into a slide tackle from behind, bringing him down. Free-kick.
Goal kick. That's a bit of a waste.
14 mins
That chance will weigh heavy on Brown's mind. Huddersfield have reacted well though, even if Reading have just had a shot from 20 yards curl inches wide of the post. Van den Berg takes the ball out from the back and beats the high press with a clever dropped shoulder, but his forward pass is cut out and Huddersfield fire it forward again. Let's see if Huddersfield now drop into an energy conserving few minutes before going wild with the high pressing again.
11 mins
This game is intense! It's being played at about 900mph - I have no idea how Huddersfield can keep this up for longer than 15 minutes... but Kachunga links well in the box, finds space... fires a cross into the area AND BROWN MUST SCORE!
Oh my lord......... how?! How can he miss that? It's an open goal but at the back post, Brown messes up his execution and puts the shot wide. Incredible.
8 mins
Reading counter-attack, men are in the area and the ball is chucked into the air, bouncing around. Nobody can get a clean header on it... and eventually Huddersfield get it up the pitch, Wells carries it forward, wins a corner... and it's out for a throw. End to end!
6 mins
SO CLOSE! Hefele arrives at the back post but can't get anything on the ball, which is whipped in with real pace to that danger area. Just wide!
5 mins
Danny Ward superstitiously saying a prayer and touching his crossbar. I used to bless all of my posts too. Just a shame God never did.
— David Preece (@davidpreece12) May 29, 2017
Huddersfield are on the attack, sending players forward at high speed to buzz around the Reading defence. Kachunga wants a free-kick but is never going to get it, Al-Habsi is closed down by a relentlessly high pressing forward and scuffs his clearance. Better that than be caught on the ball...
Huddersfield are all energy and Reading don't like it in these opening few minutes. Mooy stands over a free-kick wide left.
2 mins
An early offside hands Huddersfield possession, Danny Ward urges his players forward and then launches a long kick high up the pitch. Mooy gets a forward pass wrong and puts it out for a throw-in. This one has started like a game of rugby.
KICK-OFF
Here we go! Reading get us started.
Here come the players
Fireworks! Smoke! It's a wonderful sight as these players make their way onto the pitch. The last two meetings finished 1-0, with both sides winning one each... it's so hard to call cup games - and the pressure that rides on this one makes it even more difficult to know what will happen. We're about to find out though!
Sir Patrick Stewart interview
This is amazing TV. Honestly, I could listen to/watch this all afternoon. Sir Patrick Stewart delivering this lovely, dreamily poetic description of his support for Huddersfield and his admiration for the manager.
"You can see he's planning and plotting. He's thoughtful. It's marvelous."
"I've thought more than once that David Wagner is the kind of man I like to be directed. Why? Let me tell you. He's done preparation, he knows what the match means and he prepares his players like a director does his cast. But when the moment asks, he liberates his players as any great director does."
Al-Habsi
Here's a nice wee interview with Reading keeper Ali Al-Habsi. Sky Sports are showing a chat they've filmed with Patrick Stewart, who is telling some sort of story about a time that someone's clothes fell off instantly. And he rode off... on the grass.
Jaap Stam's Manchester accent
"It's only one game and you need to do it. It's a way of creating an environment not on the day but on the week.
"You can see the big managers like Hiddink and Alex Ferguson they don't do anything different on the big games.
"We know we're facing a very good team in possession, fast upfront. We have to make it difficult for them and easy for us."
Fans making their way to the ground
Huddersfield fans heading down Wembley Way. "Call that an arch?", etc pic.twitter.com/a6AA6clHI2
— Jonathan Liew (@jonathanliew) May 29, 2017
Starting lineups
Huddersfield
Ward, Lowe, Schindler, Hefele, Smith, Mooy, Hogg, Kachunga, Brown, Van La Parra, Wells
Reading
Al-Habsi, Gunter, Blackett, Ilori, Moore, Van den Berg, Evans, Williams, Swift, Grabban, Kermorgant
FOOTBALL
It's Monday, it's mid-afternoon - it's football day! And what a day because as you will have undoubtedly heard, this is the most valuable game of football in the history of the universe - whoever wins this game gets [mad amount of money]. Whoever loses must return to their normal human lives as carpenters, or scientists or whatever it is footballers do.
Who shall emerge victorious? Huddersfield? Reading? Only time will tell!
Preview
What is it?
It's football's biggest money-spinning match: the Championship play-off final, this year between Huddersfield and Reading.
When is it?
It's on bank holiday Monday, May 29 - ie today.
What time is kick-off?
It's a 3pm BST start at Wembley.
What TV channel is it on?
You can watch this one on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD. Or you can join us right here for live coverage before, during and after the final.
How many millions is it worth this year?
Huddersfield Town and Reading will be playing for a minimum of £170 million when they compete for a place in English football's Premier League at Wembley on Monday.
Lucrative television contracts domestically and throughout the world mean that whichever team wins the Championship playoff for the third promotion place can finish bottom of the league next season and still be guaranteed at least 95 million pounds, plus 75 million pounds in so-called parachute payments.
"(Parachute) payments are made over four years, allowing clubs to gear down and where necessary reduce their costs over a medium-term period," the Premier League's website says.
Staying up for even one season is worth a further 100 million pounds, without taking into consideration increased sponsorship and gate receipts.
What are they saying?
Nahki Wells on boss David Wagner:
"Phil Parkinson was a really good manager, somebody who did really well to get the best out of his players individually," Wells told Press Association Sport.
"But this manager tops it all. He has the character to manage at the very top.
"I've no doubt he could be a bit similar to Jurgen Klopp and go all the way, he has the characteristics.
"I don't want to jump too far ahead, but I'm pretty sure at some point in his career he'll be managing at the very, very top."
Reading midfielder John Swift:
"Every player is different, but we've all played in big games before and this is one of the biggest," he said.
"But since the beginning of the season I don't think we were tipped to be up there, and the pressure wasn't on us at the start of the play-offs.
"We weren't expected to be here so there is no pressure on us."
What are the odds?
Huddersfield: 7/5
Reading: 12/5
What's our prediction?
We think David Wagner's side will win a tight contest - perhaps 2-1.
