The Championship Playoff final is one of the most clichéd games in all of football.
“The 150 million pound game” and “the game of a lifetime” are just a few examples of what is plastered on papers and websites the day before a playoff final. Clichés aside, the grand final at Wembley is one of the most important games on the football calendar, and winning it means euphoria for the club and fans.
A moment in time: Crystal Palace, 2013
Crystal Palace are one such side to be on the winning side of a playoff final and still remain in the Premier League because of it.
Playing London rivals Watford, Palace had the least dramatic route to the final. Ian Holloway’s side eased past rivals Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 on aggregate, with a Wilfried Zaha brace sending the Eagles to Wembley.
For the Hornets, they prevailed in one of the most iconic moments in Championship history as in the second-leg against Leicester City a 96th minute penalty for the Foxes was saved by Manuel Almunia, setting Watford up on the counter and allowing now club captain Troy Deeney to smash in the winner to seal a 3-2 win for the London side.
The two sets met on a hot Spring afternoon on the 27th May, and it was evident from kick-off that Watford weren’t playing at their usual best.
Despite dominating for most of the 90 minutes Palace were unable to get past a stubborn Watford defence and Almunia playing his heart out. The game progressed into extra-time, and then the moment came.
Wilfried Zaha, on-loan from Manchester United, was tripped in the penalty area in the final minute of the first-half of extra-time, giving veteran striker Kevin Phillips the chance to send the Eagles back into the Premier League and to end his personal hoodoo of no wins in such a final.
The 39-year-old striker stepped up, and fired the south London side ahead in the biggest game of their season, putting Palace back in the Premier League after six years away from the top-flight where the Eagles remain to this day.
