After all the spies, the subterfuge and pretend binoculars came the eye of the Tigers. One sucker punch from Oli McBurnie in the fifth minute of added time and Hull City are on their way back to the Premier League.
This time there is no way back for Middlesbrough. They can pick up their feud with Southampton in the Championship next season. The reprieve was brief and the Wembley curse goes on.
They have never won on this patch of emerald turf in north-west London and on this their sixth attempt they were punished for an inability to convert long spells of control into chances.
Hull meanwhile registered their third 1-0 win in their third Championship play off final. And into history with Dean Windass and Mo Diame goes McBurnie, a cult hero with his 19th goal of the season.
Not of the quality of the Windass or Diame strikes but no less valuable. It owed much to substitute Yu Hirakawa who skipped past full back Callum Brittain, and Boro goalkeeper Sol Brynn who dived out in a bid to intercept the cross only to push the ball down into the six-yard box.
The finish was pure instinct. Swept into an unguarded net by McBurnie, the first to react and off he sprinted towards the corner flag, tearing off his shirt in celebration pursued by jubilant teammates.
Hull City celebrated earning promotion back to the Premier League by beating Middlesbrough at Wembley
Oli McBurnie’s late winning goal saw the Tigers secure promotion back to the top flight
McBurnie struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Sol Brynn could only push the ball into the box
A shirtless Scot on a searing Bank Holiday weekend. There was be no better way for him to respond to the disappointment of his omission from Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad for the World Cup.
McBurnie is bound once more for the Premier League and the £200million jackpot is bound for East Yorkshire.
Hull’s owner Acun Ilicali, having vowed to fight any Wembley defeat through the courts after the scandal of Southampton’s expulsion less than a week before the final, dissolved into tears at the final whistle.
Maybe a realisation of the fortune he will save in legal fees. Boro owner Steve Gibson, dignified in defeat, gave him a hug. Post-season has been an emotional hokey-cokey on Teesside. Out, back in and out again. Hellberg was drained and his players were devastated.
Equally, it has been a remarkable 12 months for Ilicali and the Tigers. One year ago, they only survived in the Championship on goal difference and were hit with a transfer embargo for late payments on fees.
The embargo was reduced from three windows to two on appeal so they will at least be able to reinforce as they have another crack at the Premier League, the first since Ilicali, a 56-year-old Turkish media mogul, bought the club in 2022.
Hull were written off but have remained in the promotion picture all season, a credit to the skills of boss Sergej Jakirovic, a former Bosnia Herzegovina centre half, who has forged a strong and pragmatic counterattacking team.
It turned out to be the perfect strategy for an intense final on a sweltering day at the end of a gruelling season.
Hull fans celebrate as their club earned promotion to the top flight for the third time through the play-offs
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic lifts the Championship play-off trophy aloft post-match
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn appeared disconsolate after his error proved costly
Boro dominated possession and yet hardly looked like scoring. The three best efforts of the first half came from Hull. There was a back post header by Lewie Coyle from a deep Liam Millar cross, which keeper Brynn pushed wide without too much trouble.
There was 30-yard curler from the left foot of Mohamed Belloumi which did not curl quite enough, and a header against the bar by McBurnie, who won a tussle with Adilson Malanda to reach a fine cross from the left by Ryan Giles.
Here was the shape of the game. Boro on the ball, passing and probing, with central defenders stepping out to force overloads. Hull deep with ranks massed to smother any sharp one-twos and block crosses, seeking to strike quickly on the counterattack.
Boro’s best effort of the first half came in the third minute of stoppage time during Hull’s best spell, breaking quickly to Morgan Whittaker and David Strelec, who dragged his low drive a yard wide from just outside the penalty box.
Hellberg’s team returned with a flurry purpose after the interval. Straight from kick off, Hull went back to goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and Strelec charged down his kick. Pandur was relieved to see it rebound wide of his goal.
Dael Fry went close with header over from a corner before Hull stabilised again, and the second half was disrupted by stoppages for treatment. Tired players stretched tired muscles in every break in play and the managers rolled through their changes.
Hayden Hackney came on in the 70th minute to a rapturous ovation from the Boro fans. Hellberg hails him as the Championship’s best player and few would disagree but he has been out injured since mid-March and did not look fit and was unable to exert his influence the game.
Middlesbrough had appeared in the final after Southampton were expelled over the Spygate scandal, but failed to secure promotion
Hull City owner Acun Ilcal had threatened to take legal action if his side failed to secure promotion, but can now celebrate a £200m promotion jackpot
Middlesbrough fans react after Hull’s late winner ended their Premier League hopes
No sooner was Hackney on than Riley McGree was struck down with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, concerning for the Australia international less than a month before the World Cup.
Sontje Hansen came on and forced a wonderful save from Pandur but the flag was up for offside.
Boro drove forward in search of the winner only to be caught out through Hirakawa’s change of pace, Brynn’s mistake and McBurnie’s instinct.
Hull are on their way back to the Premier League after a nine-year absence.
