Hull City and Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi have sealed a return to the Premier League after a nine-year absence, overcoming Middlesbrough 1-0 win in the Championship play-off final on Saturday, www.aclsports.com reports.
In a game regarded as the most expensive match in football at Wembley Stadium, the Tigers found the winning goal through Oliver McBurnie in the 95th minute to secure their return to the top of English league football.
With so much on the line and amid the remarkable off-field drama surrounding the fixture, it came as little surprise that the match began in a tense and cautious manner. It was a very cagey game with few efforts from both sides. Hull came close to opening the scoring when Sol Brynn was forced into action for the first time following a headed effort by Lewie Coyle in the 24th minute.
The closest either side came to making the breakthrough before the interval was an opportunity for Hull on the stroke of half-time, from which Oli McBurnie’s header from inside the box struck the bar.
After the break, the game continued in the same manner, and it became a chess game with both teams playing it safe. With fewer than 10 minutes left on the clock, substitute Joe Gelhardt wriggled into a promising position inside the area, but his snap-shot on the turn flashed wide, much to the relief of the Boro faithful.
However, with everyone preparing for extra time, McBurnie found himself in the right place at the right time to turn the ball into the back of the net in the 95th minute, giving Hull a timely lead. The Tigers managed the final moments of the game to secure their return to the Premier League.
Ajayi, who only joined Hull City last summer, played the full 90 minutes in the final as his side secured promotion to the Premier League. It also marks a return to the top-flight for the 32-year-old, who featured for West Brom in the 2020/21 season.
The Super Eagles defender made 24 league appearances and scored once during the promotion campaign, and has been included in Eric Chelle’s roster for next month’s international friendlies.
