Hull City Return to Premier League After McBurnie’s Late Heroics

Oli McBurnie scored deep into stoppage time to send Hull City back to the Premier League, as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday.

In very hot conditions, the match looked set to go into extra time before McBurnie struck in the 95th minute. He reacted quickly to a loose ball after Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn failed to hold on to it, and finished from close range.

It was McBurnie’s 18th league goal of the season, and easily the most important one, as Hull now head back to the Premier League and the huge financial rewards that come with it.

The latest final was also clouded during the week by the Spygate controversy, after Southampton were punished for spying on a Middlesbrough training session. Southampton had originally beaten Middlesbrough 2-1 over two legs, but after a hearing on Tuesday, the English Football League (EFL) removed them from the final and gave Middlesbrough their place instead.

Hull City only just made it into the playoffs after finishing sixth in the regular season. They were last in the Premier League in the 2016-17 season.

Since then, they have dropped as low as the third division, and even last year they were close to falling out of the Championship again, staying up only on goal difference. This is the third time Hull City have been promoted through the playoffs.

The hot weather at Wembley had an impact on the game, and clear chances were rare for both teams. Middlesbrough had most of the ball but could not turn it into anything dangerous, while McBurnie came closest to scoring when his header hit the crossbar just before half-time.

Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough side, who had spent much of the season in the automatic promotion places before slipping away, could not manage a single shot on target. Sontje Hansen did come close, forcing a strong save from Hull keeper Ivor Pandur, though the chance would have been ruled offside anyway.

Hull made better use of their chances, just as they have done throughout the season. With some players struggling with cramps, Yu Hirakawa broke down the left and sent in a cross that Sol Brynn could only push out, allowing McBurnie to finish and send the Hull fans into wild celebrations.