McBurnie’s last-gasp winner sends Hull City back to Premier League
LONDON: Oli McBurnie’s stoppage-time goal sent Hull City back to the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff final at Wembley on Saturday. A match played in searing heat was drifting toward extra time when McBurnie pounced in the 95th minute to stab home a loose ball after a fumble by Boro keeper Sol Brynn. It was McBurnie’s 18th league goal of the season and by far the most important with Hull now to reap the massive financial benefits that come with being part of the Premier League. Even a single season in England’s top tier, followed by immediate relegation, is estimated to be worth around 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons through broadcast revenue, sponsorship and parachute payments. The so-called richest match in world soccer was overshadowed all week by the ‘Spygate’ saga which saw Southampton kicked out for spying on a Middlesbrough training session. Southampton had beaten Middlesbrough 2-1 on aggregate but the English Football League removed them from the final and replaced them with Boro after a hearing on Tuesday. Hull City, who scrambled into the playoffs after finishing sixth in the regular season, last played in the Premier League in 2016-17. They have since been down to the third tier and this time last year almost dropped out of the Championship again, surviving on goal difference. It is the third time Hull have gone up via the playoffs. The soaring temperatures at Wembley affected the final, with chances for both sides few and far between. Middlesbrough dominated possession but did little with it and it was McBurnie who was closest to breaking the deadlock with a header against the crossbar just before halftime. Kim Hellberg’s
