Who says diving doesn’t pay off? The richest game in world football was settled because Danny Ward flung himself to his left – brilliantly, crucially, legitimately.
The Huddersfield Town goalkeeper repelled Jordan Obita’s penalty. His teammate Christopher Schindler stepped up and fired the Yorkshire club into the Premier League.
The Football League season ended in pure drama, and in rather fitting fashion.
Huddersfield reached Wembley Stadium because of their prowess at penalties and because of Ward’s ability to save them. Having demonstrated it in the semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday, the Welshman staged a sequel. The goalkeeper from Liverpool was loaned by Jurgen Klopp to his best man David Wagner.
Now the former Borussia Dortmund colleagues will be top-flight rivals.
Huddersfield, after a 45-year wait, are back. Wagner’s transformation of a forgotten club is complete.
“Just crazy,” said defender Michael Hefele, and not just because Huddersfield were promoted with a negative goal difference.
“These guys have achieved such a big thing – such a small club to be in the best league in the world. This has nothing to do with a dream. This is a reality.”
But reality can be odd.
Huddersfield had one of the lowest budgets in the division.
Schindler, the £1.8 million (Dh8.5m) recruit, was their biggest buy last summer, but only the 43rd costliest in the division.
He was part of the German invasion spearheaded by Wagner and, while his compatriot and fellow centre-back Hefele missed his penalty, Reading’s Liam Moore blazed over to spark memories of his manager Jaap Stam’s wayward spot kick for the Netherlands against Italy in Euro 2000.
Then Obita erred. Up stepped Schindler to decide the shootout. “I think nobody’s feeling 100 per cent confident under this pressure, but you have to do it,” he said.
He did and some £170m is headed Huddersfield’s way.
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Read more
■ In pictures: Huddersfield Town beat Reading
■ Reading and Huddersfield Town chase Premier League dream and riches
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It is a great story. It was not a great game, the size of the prize inhibiting both teams.
It was a match of three shots on target in 120 minutes.
It was defined by its start, but not in the way it ought to have been. Huddersfield’s early impetus should have been converted into early goals.
Hefele missed from four yards. Izzy Brown missed from three.
Each ranked as the sort of chance it seemed simpler to score. The on-loan Chelsea midfielder Brown’s effort, in particular, seems destined for footballing halls of infamy.
It did not cost him. “I think we’ve got our just desserts,” Ward said.
Huddersfield played on the front foot, Reading on the back. Given Reading’s propensity to pass the ball sideways in their own half and Huddersfield’s fervent pressing, it was like watching a Louis van Gaal side against a Klopp team.
Not always in a positive way, either. Reading lacked ambition. Huddersfield, after a blistering start, displayed energy without incision.
The first 10 minutes were hugely entertaining, the next 110 rather less so. In extra time, Huddersfield’s Nakhi Wells skewed a shot past the post.
Yet when it mattered, he converted his penalty. So did Chris Lowe, Aaron Mooy and Schindler. Huddersfield, champions three times in the 1920s, are in the Premier League.
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