Hull vs. Sheffield Wednesday: Score, Reaction from Championship Playoff Final

Hull City achieved promotion to the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the playoff final at Wembley on Saturday. 

Mohamed Diame scored the only goal of the game after 72 minutes with a superb long-range strike. The victory, which ensured Hull’s move back to the top flight of English football, is worth £110 million, according to experts at Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, per Sky Sports.

Steve Bruce elected to stay with the same XI that lost 2-0 to Derby County in the second leg of their playoff semi-final, while Carlos Carvalhal made one change to his side, replacing Alex Lopez with Sam Hutchinson in the heart of the Owls’ midfield.

Soccer AM’s Twitter account captured the atmosphere ahead of kick-off:

The atmosphere is electric! #PlayOffFinal pic.twitter.com/FhJg586zue

— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) May 28, 2016

Former Norwich City midfielder Darren Eadie was less than impressed with the limited number of Hull City supporters who made the trip south:

Absolute #TinPot support from #Hull #playofffinal not even 2 tiers full let alone 3 #shocking pic.twitter.com/ZGrjzK0S1O

— Darren Eadie (@eadie11) May 28, 2016

The match began at a zesty tempo in the English capital, with both sides well-aware of the prize at stake should they achieve a positive result. 

Former Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone was the first player to pin an effort on target. He stung the fingertips of Wednesday’s Keiren Westwood, but the talented shot-stopper turned his effort around the post. 

Creative force Fernando Forestieri bent a free-kick toward the top corner from an acute angle that Swiss goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic did well to turn over. Ross Wallace then peppered the Hull net with a set piece of his own, which the Tigers defence scrambled clear.

Times chief football writer Henry Winter made light of the goalkeeper’s decision to punch rather than catch:

Jakupovic unorthodox, unconvincing save again. Not seen so much punching at Wembley since Carl Froch was here. #playofffinal

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 28, 2016

After a flurry of early opportunities, the match began to settle into the cagey encounter that was expected ahead of kick-off, with Wednesday enjoying more of the possession in the central areas of midfield. 

However, with 30 minutes on the clock, Hull ramped up their pressure in their pursuit …

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