Hull City beat Millwall 2-0 away in the Championship playoff semi-final second leg to reach the final, with Mohamed Belloumi scoring in the 64th minute and Joe Gelhardt adding a second in the 79th. [1, 2, 3]
Millwall finished third in the Championship and missed automatic promotion by 1 point to Ipswich Town, while Coventry City won the title. Hull's win sent them into the playoff final for a place in the Premier League. [1, 2, 3]
Southampton joined them after a 2-1 extra-time win over Middlesbrough in their semi-final second leg. Riley McGree and Ross Stewart scored for Southampton before Shea Charles struck the winner in the 116th minute. [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]
Southampton finished fourth and Middlesbrough fifth in the league table. Reports said the final is the "richest game in football" because promotion to the Premier League brings major financial rewards. [4, 5, 7]
The EFL also charged Southampton over alleged spying or unauthorised filming before the first leg against Middlesbrough, and the matter remained under investigation. The playoff final between Southampton and Hull City is scheduled for May 23 at Wembley. [4, 6, 7, 9]
