Oliver McBurnie’s stoppage-time goal lifted Hull City to Premier League promotion as the Tigers cashed-in their puncher’s chance at Wembley Stadium in the Championship playoff final on Saturday.
Hull move back to the top flight for the first since their 2016-17 ended their Premier League stint inside of a decade.
MORE — History of Premier League promotion
It was a crazy week or so, as Southampton originally beat Middlesbrough in a playoff semifinal to reach the showpiece game at Wembley. But Saints were then expelled from the playoffs after being found guilty of Spying on several opponents during the season including prior to their semifinal first leg at Boro.
That meant the decision was made for Middlesbrough to replace them in the final with just a few days notice, something Hull City weren’t delighted about, but the game went ahead after incredible drama both on and off the pitch in the playoffs
Never-quit Hull City survive and thrive in wild fortnight
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirović couldn’t have imagine a draining and arduous season could get moreso, but that’s what happened over the past few weeks as his Tigers qualified for the final only to see their opponent changed midway through preparation. Hull squeaked into the playoffs over Wrexham on the final day of the regular season, but it didn’t start well with just two wins through their first eight matches. They would spend matchdays 21-43 in the top six only to fall into seventh with three matches to play. A scoreless semifinal draw at home meant they needed to go to Millwall and win — and they did, 2-0. McBurnie scored the second-most goals in the Championship regular season and his physical work to win it was symbolic of the side’s season.
“That game summed us up,” McBurnie later said. “We knew we weren’t going to have all the ball. It was tough out there with the heat, Middlesbrough are a top team. We knew we’d be up against it but we felt we’d have one chance and I felt like it was written for me to get it, I didn’t think it would be so late on, but what a feeling.”
Now they’ll enter the PL as the underdogs. They’ll be familiar with that status.
Hull City vs Middlesbrough final score: 1-0
Oliver McBurnie 90+5'
Hull City vs Middlesbrough LIVE updates — by Nick Mendola
Oli McBurnie promotion-winning goal (video)
OLI MCBURNIE'S LATE WINNER SENDS HULL TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/CgHFYIMPiE
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) May 23, 2026
Oliver McBurnie goal — Hull City 0-1 Middlesbrough
The big man cashes in deep into stoppage time!!
Boro keeper Solomon Brynn gets off his line in a bid to stop Yu Hirakawa’s cross but only gets his fingertips to it.
McBurnie still has work to do, and he deals with the man on his side to reach out his leg and snap the loose ball over the line in the fourth of eight minutes’ stoppage.
Boro remain the more threatening side but...
Threat has not turned into much danger.
Right now this look like extra time will be on the cards.
Mo Belloumi is out of the game and was Hull’s danger man, but Joe Gelhardt picks up the mantle with a low shot dragged wide of goal with 10 minutes left in the 90.
Halftime — Hull City 0-0 Middlesbrough
Boro were the more impressive side, taking seven shots and keeping the ball.
But Hull are designed to soak up pressure and win in a more combative way. They won’t feel out of it.
Strelec fires wide
A good chance for Boro, who miss just wide through Slovakian international David Strelec atop the 18.
The keeper may have drawn a bead on it, but we’ll never know.
Water break
Hot day in North London and there’s a water break in the 25th minute.
Feeling out period
Through 10 minutes, Boro have had a huge amount of possession but there’s been a single shot attempt registering 0.01 xG.
Big day, big nerves, big caution.
Hull City lineup
Pandur, Coyle, Egan, Ajayi, Hughes, Giles, Slater, Crooks, Belloumi, Millar, McBurnie
Middlesbrough lineups
Brynn, Malanda, Fry, Ayling, Brittain, Morris, Targett, Browne, McGree, Whittaker, Strelec
When is the Championship playoff final?
The Championship playoff final will be played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at 10:30am ET
How to watch the Championship playoffs live
In the USA you can watch the Championship playoff final on Paramount+.
Championship playoffs schedule, fixtures, dates, times
Semifinal results
Friday, May 8
Hull City 0-0 Millwall
Saturday, May 9
Middlesbrough 0-0 Southampton
Monday, May 11
Millwall 0-2 Hull City
Tuesday, May 12
Southampton 2-1 aet Middlesbrough
Final
Saturday, May 23
Hull City vs Middlesbrough - 10:30am ET
