Huddersfield promoted to Premier League after penalty shootout win over Reading

Few backed these sides to be challenging for promotion at the start of the campaign, with David Wagner's men considered to be in for a relegation fight as the Royals started anew under Jaap Stam.

Both teams have had memorable campaigns but Reading's has ended in heartache, whereas Huddersfield can look forward to life in the Premier League after securing a 4-3 penalty shootout triumph after 120 goalless minutes at Wembley.

The Terriers faced an uphill battle after fans' favourite Michael Hefele missed his spot-kick, only for Liam Moore to blaze over and Danny Ward - the shootout hero in the semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday - to save Jordan Obita's penalty.

Christopher Schindler stepped up to send Huddersfield into the top flight for the first time since 1972, leading to wild celebrations on the field and in the stands.

It could have been so much easier had Hefele and Izzy Brown not wasted early opportunities as a breathless start made way for a forgettable final.

However, Huddersfield will not care a jot after winning the shootout and writing an exciting new chapter in their history.

A remarkable din welcomed the teams at Wembley, where pyrotechnics and fan mosaics made way for a minute's silence in tribute to those impacted by Monday's Manchester terror attack.

The roar returned for kick-off and Huddersfield came close to ratcheting it up several notches during a start as bright as their fluorescent shirts.

Hefele lost his man in the box but could only direct Aaron Mooy's free-kick wide, with Brown going closer still in the 10th minute.

Elias Kachunga ended fine play down the right with a low shot that the on-loan Chelsea attacking midfielder met at the far post, only to inexplicably turn wide.

Lewis Grabban immediately responded with a superb curling effort from 25 yards, but the entertaining start was not the precursor to an action-packed match.

Play was tense and stretched as Reading settled, with chances at a premium in a first half in which neither side mustered so much as a shot on target.

John Swift and Joey van den Berg failed with wayward attempts as Huddersfield's final ball let them down, although the teams returned from the break with renewed vigour.

Huddersfield's Chris Lowe got away the afternoon's first shot on target 45 seconds into the second half, before goalkeeper Ward kept out Swift's threatening drive at the other end.

Again, though, the intensity quickly dropped off as both sides remained compact defensively and lacked attacking spark.

After a particularly tense period in which Huddersfield fans' favourite Hefele had a penalty appeal ignored, Mooy's fine play brought a rare chance that substitute Collin Quaner could only bundle wide.

Hefele threw himself in front of a Chris Gunter cross as Reading attacked towards the end of regulation time, only for a low-key end to the match to slow further as Town captain Tommy Smith left the field on a stretcher.

Gunter headed over and Swift dragged wide while Nahki Wells tried a long-range attempt as seven minutes of stoppage time came and went, meaning extra time awaited.

Still defences sat deep and soaked up pressure, with Wagner turning to Kasey Palmer after 113 days sidelined by a hamstring complaint.

Reading substitute Garath McCleary missed from 30 yards, but came closer from the edge of the box with a low shot just wide as the first period of extra time came to an end.

Quaner's drive was deflected behind for a corner when play resumed and calls for Jonathan Hogg to receive a second booking were overlooked as tension grew.

Wells came close after a fine Huddersfield break in the 116th minute and a Lowe free-kick just evaded team-mates as the match went to penalties.

Yann Kermorgant and Danny Williams scored to sandwich Lowe's successful spot-kick before Hefele was denied by Ali Al-Habsi, who took a step forward during the stuttering run-up.

Liam Kelly and Wells scored before Moore blazed his penalty over and after star turn Mooy made it 3-3, the Huddersfield faithful were soon cheering again as Obita was denied by Ward.

Schindler stepped up and slotted home the decisive penalty, securing promotion and his place in Huddersfield folklore.

As for Reading, it was a record-equalling fourth play-off final defeat.

Match reaction

Huddersfield's penalty hero Christopher Schindler put the club's Championship play-off victory over Reading at Wembley down to the effort put in over the whole season.

The German told Sky Sports 1: "It's unbelievable. We put so much effort into the whole season. I think we deserved it and the feeling is unbelievable now."

He said of his decisive contribution: "The heart rate was pretty high. I think nobody is 100 per cent comfortable taking a penalty.

"I'm so happy that I'm here with this wonderful team. I think we are going to have a party now."

Huddersfield goalkeeper Danny Ward, who saved Jordan Obita's penalty to give Schindler the chance to score the winner, paid tribute to manager David Wagner after the victory.

He said: "I think the manager plays a huge part, especially with the people he brought in during the summer."

Ward added: "It still hasn't quite sunk in. It just sums our season up to be honest. It's fully deserved. The desire the group have got to hang in there is unbelievable."

Michael Hefele missed his own spot-kick early in the shoot-out and admitted: "It was the worst moment in my career but I think we just stick together.

"Everybody achieved such a big thing, we are now in the Premier League with Huddersfield Town. Such a small club is now in the best league in the world, it's just crazy."

Huddersfield manager David Wagner sent a message to QPR boss Ian Holloway after sampling play-off success.

Holloway was working as a TV pundit at the start of the season when he predicted the Terriers would be relegated by the end of the campaign.

After seeing his side reach the Premier League, with Holloway's QPR having been involved in their own fight to stave off the drop, Wagner was in the mood to celebrate.

He said: "By the way, Ian Holloway, all the best for next season. I know a lot of the pundits wrote us off at the start of the season.

"I think around Christmas I thought we have a real chance to come into the play-offs.

"I think this whole group of players deserved it over the season."

Reading manager Jaap Stam paid tribute to his players after the agonising defeat.

He said: "The boys worked very hard today, It wasn't the easiest of games.

"That's how it goes. There's no blame to nobody, everybody is working hard. Penalties is always a lottery.

"I'm very proud of the team and what they have achieved this season."

Sky Bet odds

Huddersfield have been installed as 8/13 favourites for an immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship in the 2017/18 campaign.

The Terriers, winners of the old First Division on three occasions during the 1920s, finally returned to the top flight after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Reading at Wembley in Monday's Championship play-off final.

Six of the last 10 play-off winners have failed to stay up and Huddersfield are odds-against at 6/5 to buck that trend and stay in the Premier League beyond next season, while Sky Bet make them 12/1 for a top-half finish and 500/1 for the top four.

Fellow promoted side Brighton are 11/10 to go back down with Burnley 5/4, Watford 13/8 and Swansea 2/1 while Newcastle can be backed at 7/2 currently for the drop.