LONDON, England — Oli McBurnie scored a dramatic 95th-minute winner to send Hull City back to the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
The striker capitalised on an injury-time mistake from Boro goalkeeper Sol Brynn to settle a tense affair and end the Tigers’ nine-year absence from the top flight.
Okay News reports that the promotion caps a remarkable turnaround for Hull City, who only avoided relegation to League One on goal difference last season and began the current campaign under a transfer embargo.
The victory also secures a massive financial windfall for the club, with experts estimating the promotion to be worth at least £200 million in future revenues.
Middlesbrough had a tumultuous build-up to the final after being reinstated to the play-offs just days before kick-off following Southampton’s expulsion from the competition over the ‘Spygate’ saga.
Despite dominating large periods of possession at Wembley, Kim Hellberg’s side failed to break the deadlock before McBurnie struck deep into added time.
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirović expressed his disbelief after the final whistle, praising his players for handling the immense pressure of the play-offs after entering the postseason as the sixth-placed team.
The Tigers will now join the elite of English football in the Premier League next season, completing an incredible journey that saw them playing in League One just five years ago.
