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May 29 is a significant date in Huddersfield Town’s recent history for two contrasting reasons. On this day eight years ago, the Terriers were promoted to the Premier League with a 4-3
penalty shootout victory over Reading following a 0-0 draw at Wembley in the Championship play-off final. However, three years ago, Town returned to Wembley for their second play-off final
in six seasons, but on this occasion were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest, as they missed out on a top-flight return. Both proved to be pivotal moments for the Terriers, with Town going on
to enjoy their first top-flight campaign since 1972, and avoiding relegation to secure a second year at the top table. By contrast, Town now find themselves preparing for a second season in
League One just three years after their heartbreak second time around. We’ve taken a look back on those two key days that happened on this date in recent years. 2017 – CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF
FINAL VICTORY The Terriers headed into the 2017 play-off final off the back of registering a fifth-placed finish in the Championship, having ended the season before in 19th. Town went on to
face fourth-placed Sheffield Wednesday in the semi-finals, drawing the first leg 0-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium before emerging through the second leg at Hillsborough on penalties. The Owls
took a 51st-minute lead through Steven Fletcher, but Tom Lees’ own goal sent the game to spotkicks. Town stopper Danny Ward went on to save penalties from Sam Hutchinson and Fernando
Forestieri to send his side to Wembley with a 4-3 shootout victory. There they would face third-placed Reading, who had seen off Fulham with a 2-1 aggregate victory in the semis. Roared on
by around 39,000 Terriers fans, Town almost took the lead just six minutes in, but Michael Hefele headed wide from Aaron Mooy’s free-kick from the left. Izzy Brown spurned a glorious chance
for Town a few minutes later, but the Chelsea loanee turned Elias Kachunga’s ball across goal wide of the post from point-blank range. Those proved to be Town’s best opportunities in a game
of few key chances. Chris Gunter headed over late on for Reading, as the clash went to extra-time. Garath McCleary fired wide for the Royals, as did Nakhi Wells for Town, as the sides could
only be separated by a penalty shootout. Reading initially seized the upper hand in the shootout when Hefele’s effort was kept out by Ali Al-Habsi to leave the score at 2-1 to the Royals.
However, Liam Moore blazed over to hand Town a route back at 3-2, before Ward saved Jordan Obita’s following spotkick to put Town on the verge of promotion at 3-3. Christopher Schindler
stepped up to slot home the winning penalty and send the Terriers into the Premier League for the first time. TOWN SQUAD VS READING: Ward, Smith (C) (Cranie 88), Hefele, Schindler, Lowe,
Hogg, Mooy, Kachunga (Quaner 66), Brown (Palmer 98), van La Parra, Wells. Unused subs: Coleman, Hudson, Holmes-Dennis, Whitehead. Manager: David Wagner 2022 – CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF FINAL
DEFEAT Town secured their spot in the play-offs with a third-placed finish, again having ended the previous campaign in a lowly 20th position. The Terriers would then take on sixth-placed
Luton Town in the semi-finals, drawing the first leg 1-1 at Kenilworth Road before a 1-0 victory at the John Smith’s Stadium in the second leg sealed their place at Wembley, with Jordan
Rhodes’ winner coming eight minutes from time. Their opponents in the final were fourth-placed Nottingham Forest, who had seen off Sheffield United on penalties in their semi-final. The
decisive moment of the final came two minutes before the break, with Chelsea loanee Levi Colwill turning James Garner’s cross high into his own net. The Terriers were left aggrieved by two
second-half penalty decisions that didn’t go in their favour, with Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien going down in the box but Town not being awarded a spotkick on either occasion. Town ended
the contest without having a shot on target, as Forest went on to seal promotion to the top flight in front of a crowd of just over 80,000 fans. TOWN SQUAD VS FOREST: Nicholls, Lees, Sarr
(Russell 57), Colwill, Pipa, Hogg (C), O’Brien, Toffolo, Sinani (Holmes 66), Ward (Rhodes 67), Thomas. Unused subs: Blackman, Pearson, Turton, Anjorin. Head coach: Carlos Corberan SUBSCRIBE
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