Hull City reached the Championship play-off final with a 2-0 victory over Millwall in the second leg at The Den, completing a 2-0 aggregate win after a goalless first leg. Mohamed Belloumi broke the deadlock in the 64th minute, receiving the ball from Matt Crooks before cutting inside and curling a precise effort into the net. Substitute Joe Gelhardt sealed the result 15 minutes later, scoring on his first touch after a swift counterattack initiated by Belloumi and finished with a low shot that slipped past Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.
The win sends Hull to Wembley for the final on Saturday May 23, marking a significant achievement for a team that finished sixth in the regular season. They are the first sixth-placed side to reach the play-off final in seven years, and only the fifth since the Championship era began in 2004/05. Hull's journey to Wembley comes despite a turbulent campaign, including a transfer embargo and narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of last season. They started the final matchday outside the play-off positions but have now advanced to a shot at promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 2017. Since their last top-flight appearance, they have spent a season in League One.
Sergej Jakirovic, Hull's manager, praised the team's resilience and spirit. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, he said, "It's an am" — his comments cut off before completion. The Tigers' campaign under Jakirovic has been defined by late surges and defiance of expectations, with their away performance at The Den the latest example. Belloumi's influence was pivotal, providing both the goal and assist, while Gelhardt made an immediate impact off the bench. The final at Wembley will determine whether Hull's remarkable season ends in a return to the Premier League.
Hull reached Wembley by winning a second leg 2-0 after failing to score in the first, exposing how tightly contested the tie was until Belloumi's 64th-minute strike. This late breakthrough makes their sixth-place finish more remarkable, but also raises the question of why such form did not emerge earlier in the season. No Nigerian or African player featured in the match.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
