The tables are set
for May 29 at the cathedral of football, Wembley Stadium- to host the Championship
final to obtain the last promotion spot to the ranks of Premiership.
As the Reading Royals
and the Huddersfield Town Terriers will stage this final to determine who will seize
that coveted third spot.
With Newcastle United
winning the Championship trophy followed by Brighton, Hove and & Albion,
these two delivering the automatic spots, the playoffs were set for the squads
finishing from third to sixth place.
The finalists were
the Reading Royals, Fulham Cottagers, Huddersfield Terriers and Sheffield
Wednesday Owls, the heat was on for these four squads, looking forward to reach
the ultimate of football feats.
Pairing The Reading
Royals against Fulham Cottagers and in the other front were Huddersfield
Terriers playing against the Sheffield Owls.
Starting with Jaap
Stam Royals, these are no strangers in the ranks of the English Premier League,
since their relegation in the 2012-13 campaign to Championship.
Despite this club having
its struggles in the lower division of England, this campaign became a stellar
one since their inception to the first division, but their resolve to get
better this campaign and look for their opportunity.
After finishing in
the overall table in third place, their aim in these playoffs was to deliver
the unthinkable and going against the Londoners of Fulham, the heat and
pressure was on for the Royals to mount a one of kind performances.
Still nothing was
impossible for the Royals, as Jaap Stam and his bunch were ready to front a
very hostile and raucous Craven Cottage crowd, as the first leg finished tied
at one goal apiece.
Returning to play at
Madejski Stadium in Reading with both squads tied in the overall score, the
game started with both sides making the best to open up the scoreboard, it is
when the Cottagers defender made the ultimate of sins with a handball inside
the area.
Opening the door for Yann
Kermorgant to shoot the winning goal via a penal to leave the overall score for
2-1 in favor of the Royals and advance into the grand finale in Wembley Stadium.
Going to the other
side of this Championship postseason between AFC Huddersfield Town AFC and
Sheffield Wednesday in the other semifinal, were the Owls were looking for a
return to the big circuit since their relegation in 2000.
For the Terriers
looking forward to a first time appearance in the lines of Premiership since their
foundation, this was their all-around opportunity to make the most out of it as
for their man at the helm Danny Ward trying to deliver history for the Town.
As the commotion and
drama of the playoffs started in John Smith’s Stadium at Huddersfield Town to
host the likes of the Owls looking like sure favorites but this is not anyone’s
series yet as both squads can put on a fierce fight.
Still the only
lowlight in the first leg and despite both squads intents of both squads
looking forward to open up the score and the opportune heroics and saves by
both squads keepers, this match ended up as a tie at zero goals.
The second leg was to
play in the colossus of Hillsborough, Owlerton in Sheffield, to define the
winner of this series and the squad to make the trip to the finals in Wembley.
As both squads coming
from a scoreless first game, now the tables turned, as both squads scored in
regular time with Sheffield Steven Fletcher in the 51st minute,
putting the Wednesday squad with a foot in London.
When in the 73
minute, when disaster hit the Owls squad, when defender Tom Lees scored on its
own goal and leaving the score to the end and sending it to the always-difficult
penalty kicks.
For the Terriers the
first one to open up was Chris Lowe to open up the score, then for Wednesday
came Sam Hutchinson who his shoot was blocked successfully by the Town keeper
Danny Ward.
With the Town Micheal
Hefele converting to give them the lead and follow by Owls Barry Bannan and the
scores was 2-1 favoring the visitors, then Nakhi Wells, Jack Hunt scores for
the Terriers, and Jack Payne seeing his shoot blocked.
For the Owls Kieran
Lee and Jack Hunt converting and keeping their hopes high, their hopes placed
in Fernando Forestieri with the score at 4-3 and if he scored, he would send
the game into sudden death.
Here where the man of
the match and hero, in the Terriers keeper Danny Ward stopping Forestieri shoot
cold in its tracks for the jubilation and pass for the Huddersfield Boys going
to London and living the dream.
Come May 29, the
colossus of Brent, Wembley Stadium were the Huddersfield Town AFC looking for
its first try in going into the ranks of Premiership and for the Reading FC one more time they are looking for a return to
the big league.
At the end that will
accompany the likes of the Magpies and Seagulls into the grand ball of the English
Premier League and make a grand run, who will it be the Royals or Terriers?
Post
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