Extra-time winner sends Southampton to Wembley
Southampton will face Hull City for a place in the Premier League as Shea Charles's 116th-minute winner earned a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough in their play-off semi-final second leg.
In a feisty encounter amid the backdrop of Southampton's charge for allegedly spying on its opponent ahead of the goalless first leg, the Saints left it late to get the job done.
Middlesbrough needed just five minutes to take the lead at St. Mary's Stadium through Socceroos star Riley McGree, who brilliantly swept Callum Brittain's inviting cross from the right-hand side into the opposite corner of Daniel Peretz's net.
Southampton should have hit back moments later, but Ross Stewart was unable to turn Ryan Manning's delivery home, before Brittain saw his shot flicked towards goal by Dael Fry but saved by Peretz at the other end in the 31st minute.
Tonda Eckert's side restored parity in first-half stoppage time when Manning's volley from James Bree's free-kick was saved by Sol Brynn, only for Stewart to rise high and nod in the rebound.
The Saints looked the livelier after the break as Manning's effort took a deflection off Luke Ayling and into the side-netting, though the Middlesbrough defender was fortunate not to give away a penalty soon after when he tangled with Leo Scienza.
Cyle Larin came closest to finding a winner in normal time as his strike stung the palms of Brynn, with the visiting goalkeeper then called into action in extra-time to repel Samuel Edozie's shot as Taylor Harwood-Bellis miscued the follow-up.
Just when everyone thought penalties would decide who would reach the final on 23 May, Charles collected the ball on the right and delivered a dangerous left-footed cross into the area that evaded everyone and nestled into the back of the net to seal the win.
