LONDON -- Huddersfield Town beat Reading 4-3 on penalty kicks in the Championship Playoff Final at Wembley on Monday to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time in club history.
[ MORE: JPW on"miracle” for Terriers ]
In a tense, tight game Huddersfield missed big chances early on and Reading fought back valiantly but the Terriers won and secured an estimated $218 million jackpot for next season.
German-American manager David Wagner who got the better of Jaap Stam as his team won 4-3 on penalty kicks as Danny Ward saved Jordan Obita’s spot kick and then Christopher Schindler scored the winner.
[ MORE: Wagner reacts to fairytale ]
A remarkable story as Huddersfield secured promotion to the top-flight of English soccer for the first time in 1972.
Huddersfield had the first big chance of the game as Aaron Mooy’s free kick from the left found Michael Hefele but he nodded just wide after rising at the back post.
The Terriers continued to press and had a glorious chance to take the lead as Elias Kachunga got free on the right side of the box and his shot across goal looked destined to be tapped home by Isaiah Brown... but somehow he shinned the effort wide from one yard out.
HORROR MISS 🙈
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) May 29, 2017
From pointblank range Izzy Brown stirs the ball wide of @ReadingFC's net. pic.twitter.com/3w4JL9WdMs
At the other end Reading went close when Lewis Grabban dropped deep and curled towards the top corner but it flew just wide.
Huddersfield continued to pour forward in search of the opener as Nahki Wells’ cross was hooked clear and Reading, somehow, went in level at the break.
Reading started the second half well as John Swift burst into the box but his show was straight at Danny Ward who saved.
That effort sparked Huddersfield back into life as they twice surged into the box but couldn’t find the final pass at the crucial moment.
The game grew more tense as the clock ticked closer to 90 minutes with substitute Collin Quaner failing to get proper contact on Aaron Mooy’s cross.
Late on Reading pushed forward as Hefele made a wonderful last-ditch clearance with Yann Kermorgant lurking and Huddersfield lost captain Tommy Smith to a serious injury.
Seven minutes of stoppage time couldn’t find a winner, so the game went in to extra time but an extra 30 minutes failed to open up the game as Garath McCleary drilled a low shot wide and then Nahki Wells dragged a tired effort wide in the 116th minute and that was as close as either team came to scoring.
After 120 minutes it finished 0-0 and penalty kicks were needed to decide who gained promotion to the Premier League.
Huddersfield won on penalty kicks after Danny Ward saved Jordan Obita’s spot kick and then Schindler stepped up to send the Terriers into the top flight for the first time since 1972.
Whoomp! There It Is!
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) May 29, 2017
Schindler seals it for @htafcdotcom & the @premierleague welcomes the Terriers for the first time. #PlayOffFinal pic.twitter.com/PJdNpKTmtR
