AARON Mooy’s Huddersfield Town is one game away from Premier League promotion after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Sheffield Wednesday.
The Socceroo converted one of Huddersfield’s spot kicks with keeper Danny Ward proving the hero, saving Wednesday’s first and last penalties to seal a 4-3 shootout win after a 1-1 draw.
Huddersfield now takes on Reading in Wembley Stadium in 12 days for a place in the Premier League in a sudden death clash, seeking a return to English football’s top flight after a 45-year absence.
Mooy, who won Huddersfield’s player of the year award, produced another top display as their season appeared over when Steven Fletcher opened the scoring at Hillsborough after a goalless first leg.
📹 THE moment! #htafc (DTS) pic.twitter.com/KcYrYxKE8T
— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) May 17, 2017
He remained composed pulling strings in midfield and was lurking ominously when Huddersfield equalised via a Tom Lees own goal, after pressure from striker Nahki Wells in the 73rd minute to send the game into extra-time.
Mooy made it 4-2 in the shootout, but Wednesday keeper Kieren Westwood saved Jack Payne’s next penalty to keep the home side in the contest.
On-loan keeper Ward wasn’t to be outdone, diving right to save Fernando Forestieri’s final penalty confining Wednesday to a second successive year of playoff heartbreak.
Reading, who beat Fulham in the other two-legged playoff, now stand between Huddersfield and a lucrative Premier League spot on May 30 (Australian time).
Huddersfield were third for much of the Championship season, before dropping to fifth in the final rounds, with Reading overtaking them to finish third, behind Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Originally published as Mooy’s Town one win away from EPL