Fulham beat Brentford to secure return to the Premier League

Fulham’s Tom Cairney lifts the trophy as he celebrates promotion to the Premier League with his teammates after winning the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Images of Action via Reuters / Matthew Childs

Fulham secured an instant return to the Premier League after a season away by beating West Brentford’s rival 2-1 in the Championship playoff final.

Joe Bryan scored twice in overtime at Wembley to give Fulham the victory in what is known as the most lucrative game in soccer. Fulham will receive at least £ 135 million ($ 176 million) for three years after securing promotion, one year after being relegated from the world’s richest soccer league.

Fulham owner Shahid Khan failed in his attempt to buy Wembley a year ago, and his team had to celebrate Tuesday in an empty stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bryan broke the deadlock after catching goalkeeper David Raya by surprise with a nearly 35-yard free kick in the 105th minute as both teams waited for a cross into the box.

“The goalkeeper is ridiculously away from his line,” Bryan said.

The left-back scored again in the 117th minute after playing a brace with Aleksandar Mitrovic for promotion in the first full season of Scott Parker under Fulham.

Highlight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi868aKhKwM

Brentford, who had a strike force of 59 goals in Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo, and Ollie Watkins, remained under control in the most important game of the season. Henrik Dalsgaard’s header in the third minute of stoppage time was too late for Brentford, who was trying to return to the top division after a 73-year absence.