2013 Football League Championship play-off final

Association football match in London December 2017 December 2017 2013 Football League Championship play-off final Wembley-Stadion 2013.jpg The match was played at Wembley Stadium. 2012–13 Football League Championship Crystal Palace 1 Watford 0 After extra time 27 May 2013 Wembley Stadium London Wilfried Zaha Martin Atkinson 82,025 2012 2014 The 2013 Football League Championship play-off final was an association football match which was played on 27 May 2013 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Crystal Palace and Watford. The match was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football, to the Premier League. The top two teams of the 2012–13 Football League Championship season gained automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the teams placed from third to sixth place in the table partook in play-off semi-finals; Watford ended the season in third position while Crystal Palace finished fifth. The winners of these semi-finals competed for the final place for the 2013–14 season in the Premier League. Winning the game was estimated to be worth up to £120million to the successful team. The 2013 final, refereed by Martin Atkinson, was watched by a crowd of more than 82,000 people. The game ended goalless in regular time, and proceeded into extra time. Crystal Palace won 1–0, with the only goal of the game coming from Kevin Phillips in the last minute of the first half of extra time from the penalty spot. It was Palace's fourth win in five play-off finals. Wilfried Zaha was named man of the match. Both teams finished mid-table in their respective leagues the following season. Crystal Palace ended the next season in 11th place in the Premier League, while Watford finished their following campaign in the Championship 13th place. Route to the final 2012–13 Football League Championship main WDL Q right auto Football League Championship final table, leading positions CAR Cardiff City HUL Hull City WAT Watford BHA Brighton & Hove Albion CRY Crystal Palace LEI Leicester City 25 12 9 72 45 24 7 15 61 52 23 8 15 85 58 19 18 9 69 43 19 15 12 73 62 19 11 16 71 48 complete Watford finished the regular 2012–13 season in third place in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system, two places ahead of Crystal Palace. Both therefore missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the Premier League and instead took part in the play-offs to determine the third promoted team. Watford finished two points behind Hull City (who were promoted in second place) and ten behind league winners Cardiff City. Crystal Palace ended the season five points behind Watford.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-championship/2013/ League Championship end of season table for 2012–13 season 11v11.com 3 May 2020 Crystal Palace faced Brighton & Hove Albion in their play-off semi-final, the first leg being played at Selhurst Park. The game ended goalless but Palace's top scorer Glenn Murray was injured and had to be carried off on a stretcher midway through the second half after suffering what was suspected to be a cruciate ligament injury. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22414006 Crystal Palace 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion BBC Sport 3 May 2020 10 May 2013 Neil Johnston https://web.archive.org/web/20200201100616/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22414006 1 February 2020 live The second leg was held three days later at Falmer Stadium, a venue at which Brighton had not lost since January. Palace went into the match having won once in their past eleven games and, as expected, without Murray. He was replaced by Aaron Wilbraham who had scored once in his 25 appearances that season. Wilfried Zaha put Palace ahead midway through the second half with a header from Yannick Bolasie and double their advantage late in the game, striking the ball into the roof of the net. The 2–0 aggregate win ensured the London club's qualification for the final. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22424087 BBC Sport 3 May 2020 13 May 2013 Emlyn Begley Brighton & Hove Albion 0–2 Crystal Palace https://web.archive.org/web/20200201100625/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22424087 1 February 2020 live In the other play-off semi-final, Watford's opponents were Leicester City, and the first leg was played at the King Power Stadium. The hosts won the match 1–0 with a David Nugent header from an Anthony Knockaert free kick late on. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22413989 Leicester City 1–0 Watford 3 May 2020 9 May 2013 BBC Sport Owen Phillips In the second leg, Matěj Vydra, recently named the Championship Player of the Year at the Football League Awards, https://www.efl.com/news/2013/march/vydra-is-npower-championship-player-of-the-year/ English Football League Vydra is npower Championship Player of the Year 24 March 2013 3 May 2020 put Watford into the lead with a left-foot volley from a Marco Cassetti pass into the far corner of Kasper Schmeichel's goal. Nugent restored parity in the leg with another header from a Knockaert corner, before Vydra played a one-two with Troy Deeney to score his second and equalise the semi-final 2–2 on aggregate. Leicester were awarded an injury time penalty: Knockaert stepped up to take it only to see it saved, and in the immediate counter-attack, Jonathan Hogg's knock-down was finished by Deeney to give Watford a 3–2 aggregate victory and passage to the final. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22417772 BBC Sport 3 May 2020 12 May 2013 Mandeep Sanghera Watford 3–1 Leicester City https://web.archive.org/web/20190502094757/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22417772 2 May 2019 live Crystal PalaceRoundWatfordOpponentResultLegsSemi-finalsOpponentResultLegsBrighton & Hove Albion2–0 0–0 home; 2–0 awayLeicester City3–2 0–1 away; 3–1 home Match right|thumb|upright|alt=Glenn Murray|Crystal Palace were without their top scorer Glenn Murray who had scored 30 goals during the regular season. right|thumb|upright|alt=Matěj Vydra|Watford's top scorer Matěj Vydra went off injured at half time in the final. Background This was Crystal Palace's fifth appearance in the second tier play-off final, with their most recent being in the 2004 final at the Millennium Stadium which they won 1–0 against West Ham United. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2074283-how-the-last-20-play-off-winners-have-fared-in-their-first-premier-league-season Bleacher Report 3 May 2020 24 May 2014 How the Last 20 Play-Off Winners Have Fared in Their First Premier League Season Karl Matchett https://web.archive.org/web/20140525024959/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2074283-how-the-last-20-play-off-winners-have-fared-in-their-first-premier-league-season 25 May 2014 live https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3750773.stm Crystal Palace 1–0 West Ham 29 May 2004 3 May 2020 BBC Sport https://web.archive.org/web/20180928203847/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3750773.stm 28 September 2018 live Palace had also won the 1989 final (over two legs) and the 1997 final, and had lost the 1996 final. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214128/https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9864357/play-off-final-history-stats https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9864357/play-off-final-history-stats 9 October 2016 25 May 2015 Sporting Life 3 May 2020 Play-Off Final History & Stats Watford also had play-off final experience, winning both their previous appearances, in the 1999 and 2006 finals. During the regular season, Crystal Palace lost their home game against 3–2 in August 2012 in what was Gianfranco Zola's first league match as manager of Watford. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19221446 Crystal Palace 2–3 Watford BBC Sport 4 May 2020 18 August 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20190413032329/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19221446 13 April 2019 live The return game played at Vicarage Road the following February ended in a 2–2 draw. https://www.11v11.com/teams/crystal-palace/tab/matches/season/2013/ 11v11.com 4 May 2020 Crystal Palace football club match record: 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20170504120931/http://www.11v11.com/teams/crystal-palace/tab/matches/season/2013/ 4 May 2017 live Murray was Palace's top scorer with 30 while Vydra had scored the most for Watford with 22. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22515182 Watford boss Gianfranco Zola 'lost it' after play-off winner 13 May 2013 BBC Sport 4 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20190331010637/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22515182 31 March 2019 live Both clubs sold out their allocation of tickets at Wembley Stadium, with Palace selling 33,000 tickets and Watford more than 34,000. https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2013/may/play-off-final-tickets-sold-out/ Play-Off Final Tickets sold out Crystal Palace F.C. 4 May 2020 17 May 2013 https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/10430221.watford-have-sold-their-ticket-allocation-for-the-championship-play-off-final-against-crystal-palace/ Watford Observer 4 May 2020 20 May 2013 Watford have sold their ticket allocation for the Championship play-off final against Crystal Palace The final was refereed by Martin Atkinson of the West Riding County Football Association, with assistant referees Stuart Burt and Peter Kirkup, while Neil Swarbrick acted as the fourth official. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/10424215.martin-atkinson-will-referee-the-championship-final-between-watford-and-crystal-palace-at-wembley/ Watford Observer 4 May 2020 Martin Atkinson will referee the Championship final between Watford and Crystal Palace at Wembley 16 May 2013 It was reported in the press and media that the match was worth more than £120million over four years to the winning club through sponsorship and television appearances. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/27/crystal-palace-watford-live-championship-play-off-final The Guardian Barry Glendenning Barry Glendenning Crystal Palace v Watford – as it happened 27 May 2013 13 December 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160415200447/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/27/crystal-palace-watford-live-championship-play-off-final 15 April 2016 live https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22592831 Crystal Palace 1–0 Watford (aet) BBC Sport 4 May 2020 27 May 2013 Paul Fletcher https://web.archive.org/web/20170420075213/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22592831 20 April 2017 live https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/10082271/Crystal-Palace-1-Watford-0-Championship-play-off-final-match-report.html The Daily Telegraph 4 May 2020 27 May 2013 Henry Winter Henry Winter Crystal Palace 1 Watford 0: Championship play-off final: match report https://web.archive.org/web/20200108022519/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/10082271/Crystal-Palace-1-Watford-0-Championship-play-off-final-match-report.html 8 January 2020 live Seven of Watford's starting line-up were on loan at the club, four from Italian club Udinese, two from Spanish team Granada and one from Chelsea. Palace's soul loanee was Zaha who had been sold to Manchester United in the January transfer window and loaned back to the south London club. He was declared fit to play despite picking up an ankle injury in the semi-final, so Palace's team was unchanged. Daniel Pudil and Hogg were recalled to the Watford side, having been absent from the team that defeated Leicester City in the semi-final. Wilbraham retained his place in the Palace team as Murray's first semi-final injury kept him sidelined. First half Watford kicked the match off shortly after 3p.m. in front of a Wembley crowd of 82,025. After a brief interlude to remove some balloons which had descended from the spectators into the Crystal Palace penalty area, Watford won a free kick for a foul on Deeney. The resulting set piece was cleared, and on 8 minutes, Palace's Jonny Williams was brought down by Hogg for another free kick, which came to nothing. Three minutes later, Joel Ekstrand received the first yellow card of the game after a late tackle on Wilbraham. Palace's South African international defender Kagisho Dikgacoi went down with a calf injury in the 15th minute and was replaced two minutes later by Stuart O'Keefe in the first substitution of the afternoon. A counter attack from Palace midway through the first half saw Zaha holding off two Watford defenders, enabling him to pass to Owen Garvan who delayed his shot too long and allowed Lloyd Doyley to block. The second yellow card of the afternoon was shown to Jedinak in the 28th minute after a poor challenge on Almen Abdi. Five minutes later, Vydra's first shot on goal was blocked by Palace defender Damien Delaney, but by the end of the half the Watford striker was visibly struggling after picking up an injury. Despite the clubs being the two top-scoring teams in the division, the half ended goalless. Second half Over the half-time break, Watford's Vydra was replaced by the Spanish striker Alexandre Geijo. Palace kicked off the second half and after two minutes the first chance fell to Watford's loanee Nathaniel Chalobah whose long-range strike went wide. Abdi's shot was then blocked by Delaney; meanwhile Jedinak began to struggle. In the 58th minute, a Geijo shot was easily saved by Julián Speroni in the Palace goal. Two minutes later a Wilbraham shot was blocked by Watford's goalkeeper Manuel Almunia. Abdi then brought down O'Keefe, who reacted to the challenge: both players were booked. Geijo then forced a save from Speroni in the 63rd minute before O'Keefe's effort from a Zaha square pass was saved by Almunia. In the 66th minute, Kevin Phillips came on to replace Williams for Palace. Twice in quick succession the Watford defence failed to deal with Palace attacks, but still the deadlock remained. With 18 minutes remaining, a cross from Zaha was headed back across goal by Phillips but Garvan failed to find the target, curling his shot past the outside of the post. Chalobah was then substituted off, with another loanee, Cristian Battocchio, coming on to replace him. With seven minutes remaining, Almunia saved a Wilbraham shot before Garvan was replaced by André Moritz in Palace's final substitution of the match. Fernando Forestieri was then brought on for Ikechi Anya. Both teams had chances to break the deadlock but after three minutes of added-on time, the referee Martin Atkinson brought the second half to a close, still goalless, for extra time to be played. Extra time Watford kicked off the first period of extra time, and three minutes in, Deeney brought another save from Speroni. Forestieri then shot wide from a tight angle. Nine minutes in, Danny Gabbidon conceded a corner which, taken by Abdi, was struck by Battocchio through a group of defenders and saved by Speroni. Dean Moxey was then booked for a foul on Forestieri, becoming the sixth player of the afternoon to receive a yellow card. On the brink of half time, Cassetti fouled Zaha in the Watford box and Palace were awarded a penalty. The spot kick was struck into the top-left corner by Phillips, putting Palace 1–0 ahead. Four minutes into the second half, a corner from Abdi was gathered by Speroni before Deeney could capitalise on the loose ball. In the 23rd minute, a free kick from Abdi from 25 yd was easily caught by Speroni. With two minutes remaining, Joel Ward blocked an Ekstrand shot with his stomach; appeals for a penalty were dismissed by Atkinson. Forestieri then went close as Ward was forced to clear his shot off the Palace goal line. Two corners for Watford came to nothing and the referee blew his whistle to signify the end of extra time and the match, with Palace winning 1–0. Details 27 May 2013 15:00 BST Crystal Palace 1–0 yes Watford Phillips 105+1 pen. Report Wembley Stadium, London 82,025 Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire) _yellowborder _cpfc1213h _yellowborder BF0000 0000BF BF0000 0000BF 0000BF Crystal Palace _watford1213h _black_thinstripe_color _red_midband_color FFFF00 F1EF00 FFFF00 FF0000 000000 Watford GK 1ARG Julián SperoniRB 2ENGJoel Ward 80CB 33WALDanny GabbidonCB 27IRLDamien DelaneyLB 21ENGDean Moxey 104DM 15AUSMile Jedinak (c) 28CM 8RSAKagisho Dikgacoi 18CM 10IRLOwen Garvan 84RF 20WALJonny Williams 66CF 18ENGAaron WilbrahamLF 16CIVWilfried ZahaSubstitutes:GK 34ENGLewis PriceDF 3WALJazz RichardsDF 28ENGPeter RamageMF 7FRAYannick BolasieMF 22ENGStuart O'Keefe 60 18MF 30BRAAndré Moritz 84FW 9ENGKevin Phillips 66Manager:ENGIan Holloway GK 1ESPManuel Almunia (c)RB 27ITAMarco Cassetti 105CB 12ENGLloyd DoyleyCB 40SWEJoel Ekstrand 10LB 18CZEDaniel PudilDM 39ENGNathaniel Chalobah 74DM 8ENGJonathan HoggCM 22SUIAlmen Abdi 60RF 20CZEMatěj Vydra 46CF 9ENGTroy DeeneyLF 21SCOIkechi Anya 86Substitutes:GK 30ENGJonathan BondDF 6ENGFitz HallDF 17ENGMatthew BriggsMF 7IRLMark YeatesMF 38ARGCristian Battocchio 74FW 36SUIAlexandre Geijo 46FW 41ARGFernando Forestieri 86Manager:ITAGianfranco Zola Man of the Match: Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) Assistant referees: Stuart Burt Peter Kirkup Fourth official: Neil SwarbrickMatch rules: 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Seven named substitutes. Maximum of three substitutions. Statistics right|thumb|upright|Wilfried Zaha (pictured in 2016) was named man of the match. +StatisticsPaul Fletcher Crystal Palace 1–0 Watford https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22592831 BBC Sport 27 May 2013 29 May 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20150313153130/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22592831 13 March 2015 live Crystal Palace WatfordTotal shots 12 15Shots on target 10 9Ball possession 52% 48%Corner kicks 6 8Fouls committed 12 13Yellow cards 4 3Red cards 0 0 Post-match Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway said: "I've been very fortunate to have worked with some great players and I'm very grateful to this bunch. We're in the Premier League now and... god help us. We battled hard." He went on to say "It all starts now for me because the minute we kick off next season we're on a hiding to nothing... We've got to make sure we can compete and I want to stay there." https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22684108 Ian Holloway: Crystal Palace are 'on a hiding to nothing' BBC Sport 4 May 2020 28 May 2013 Zola was gracious in defeat and conceded that Palace "played well and probably deserved it more than us, so congratulations to them... I had no complaints about their penalty... Wilfried Zaha made a huge difference." https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22683929 Crystal Palace deserved win, says Watford boss Gianfranco Zola BBC Sport 4 May 2020 27 May 2013 Phillips spoke of his winning penalty strike and his future: "I had in my mind where I wanted to take it, I was happy to take it. I picked my spot and stuck to it. I don't know if that's going to be my last match, but if it is, what a way to sign off." Zaha was named man of the match.http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11686/8738984/Championship-play-offs-Watford-s-Gianfranco-Zola-praises-Wilfried-Zaha Watford's Gianfranco Zola praises Wilfried Zaha Sky Sports 27 May 2013 4 May 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20180816114442/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11686/8738984/Championship-play-offs-Watford-s-Gianfranco-Zola-praises-Wilfried-Zaha 16 August 2018 live Crystal Palace ended the next season in 11th place in the Premier League, 12 points above the relegation zone. https://www.11v11.com/teams/crystal-palace/tab/leagueTables/2014/ Premier League table at close of 2013–14 season 11v11.com 4 May 2020 Watford finished the following season in 13th place, 16 points above the relegation zone but 12 points outside the play-offs. https://www.11v11.com/teams/watford/tab/leagueTables/2014/ League Championship table at close of 2013–14 season 11v11.com 4 May 2020 References C Play-off Final 1 Football League Championship play-off final Football League Championship play-off final 2013 Category:EFL Championship play-off finals Football League Championship play-off final Football League Championship play-off final 2013