Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DREAM ME UP , SCOTTY
Fantastic Fulham are Joe-ing up as Bryan scores two extra-time goals at Wembley
BRENTFORD 1 FULHAM 2
EFL Championship play-off final: After extra time
JOE BRYAN struck twice in extratime to send Fulham back into the Premier League.
The left-back’s brilliantly-improvised free-kick and a second goal from close range decided football’s richest game and shattered Brentford’s hopes of reaching the top flight for the first time in 73 years.
Goalkeeper David Raya positioned himself way off his line anticipating a cross from Bryan’s 105thminute free-kick. But the defender (left) spotted the gap and whipped the ball into the net from 35 yards.
His second came on 118 minutes from a breakaway, ensuring Scott Parker’s Cottagers bounced back to the top flight at their first attempt - and landed a huge £170million windfall.
JOE BRYAN broke Brentford’s hearts with a cheeky piece of magic to fire Fulham back into the big time.
Just four miles separate the two west London clubs, and for 104 minutes there was nothing between them here, though Fulham had enjoyed the better moments.
Then, red-faced Brentford keeper David Raya strayed too far off his line and full-back Bryan beat him with a blistering and perfectly disguised 35-yard free kick.
Just to make sure, the unlikely hero added a second 12 minutes later in a dramatic finale to the richest game in football.
Bryan, a £6million signing from Bristol City in August 2018, had only scored once all season. But his surprise brace clinched a £170m windfall for Scott Parker’s side, who return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
And for poor Brentford, who have not played top-flight football since 1947, it meant the unfortunate tag of play-off chokers.
The Bees did score in stoppage time through Henrik Dalsgaard, but they have now failed in NINE play-off campaigns – more than any other club. Brentford, playing in their fourth play-off final and first since 2013 when they were stuck in the third tier, had plenty of reasons to be cheerful going into the game.
They finished third, above Fulham on goal difference, beating them home and away, and were on a roll before losing their final two games.
The sight of Golden Boot winner Aleksandar Mitrovic on the bench for the Cottagers at the start of the game also gave them a big lift.
But Fulham had experience and history on their side.
They played like it to begin with too, Josh Onomah twice forcing Raya into saves and Brentford showing signs of nerves inside their penalty area.
Nine of the players in Parker’s matchday squad had been here before when the club beat Aston Villa to return to the top
flight two years ago. Harrison Reed wasn’t one of them though, and the midfielder was lucky to escape with only a yellow for a thunderous studs-up tackle on Christian Norgaard.
Neeskens Kebano went close with a dipping, curling free kick into the side-netting at the start of the second half for Fulham.
But Brentford wanted a penalty for a Michael Hector handball but the defender’s arm was across his chest when the ball struck him.
And then it was Fulham skipper Tom Cairney’s turn to ride his luck, receiving a yellow card for a lunge at Said Benrahma that could easily have been red.
Bees dangerman Ollie Watkins tested Marek Rodak with a scorcher from 20 yards before Mitrovic finally got into the action in stoppage time. But Brentford continued to threaten in extra time with Hector just doing enough to put Watkins off at the near post.
The tension continued to rise as Rodak saved a long-rage effort from Kamara and Hector blocked a shot from Mathias Jensen.
And then, the breakthrough. Bryan spotted Raya way off his line and beat him with a free kick.
Bryan snatched another on the break and though Dalsgaard pulled one back, it was too little too late for Brentford. BRENTFORD: Raya 4, Dalsgaard 6, Pinnock 6, Jansson 6, Henry 6 (Fosu 105), Norgaard 6, Jensen 7 (Dervisoglu 105), Dasilva 6 (Canos 83), Mbeumo 5 (Marcondes 61, 6), Watkins 6, Benrahma 6 FULHAM: Rodak 7, Odoi 6, Hector 6, Ream 6, MOTM BRYAN 8, Reed 6, Cairney 6, Onomah 7, Cordova-reid 6 (Mitrovic 90), Kamara 7 (Cavaleiro 105), Kebano 6 (Knockaert 81)