Shea Charles’ 116th-minute winner saw Southampton beat Middlesbrough 2-1 after extra time to book their spot in the 2025-26 Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final.
Charles curled in a 116th-minute winner to settle a fiery contest which was marred by an alleged use of discriminatory language towards Boro’s Luke Ayling from Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Riley McGree fired Middlesbrough ahead from Callum Brittain’s fifth-minute low cross, before Ross Stewart nodded in Southampton’s equaliser on the rebound from Sol Brynn’s flap of Ryan Manning’s shot in the first minute of first-half injury time.
Southampton will now meet Hull at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 23 May with the kick-off time still yet to be confirmed, after Sergej Jakirovic’s Tigers beat Millwall 2-0 last night (11 May).
As spygate continued to cast a dark cloud over this play-off semi-final tie with Southampton eager for extra time to conduct an internal review before a hearing into their alleged spying, Boro refused to let the mess cloud their focus as they made an electric start which saw Caspar Jander foul David Strelec.
Referee, Andrew Madley however dismissed Boro’s penalty appeals but the visitors refused to relent and broke the deadlock in the fifth minute, as Brittain’s low cross was rifled into the bottom left corner by McGree to put Boro ahead on the night and aggregate.
Southampton almost restored parity in the 12th minute as Ryan Manning burst forward with a cross which was flicked wide of the left corner by Stewart, albeit just yards from goal.
Kuryu Matsuki then nodded Leo Scienza’s cross over the bar just two minutes later.
Boro however continued to cause issues of their own as Tommy Conway and Dael Fry saw shots blocked.
Tension boiled over after Ayling fouled Scienza which led to the Boro defender exchanging words with Harwood-Bellis then Madley, which culminated in a yellow card whilst Southampton manager – Tonda Eckert had a fiery pitchside clash with Boro’s Kim Hellberg.
Sky Sports at half time reported that Harwood-Bellis allegedly used discriminatory language towards Ayling in their clash of words.
Southampton eventually finished the first half on top after Scienza won a free-kick just outside the left side of the box, from which Manning’s shot was flapped by Brynn for Stewart to nod in on the rebound to restore parity at half time.
Eckert’s Saints almost went in with an extra-man advantage after Daniel Peretz snatched the ball from Conway’s hands and jolted the Scottish international’s right arm towards his own face, which allowed him to feign contact and go down clutching his nose
Madley however was disinterested in Peretz’s attempt to get Conway red carded for violent conduct and waved away the Israeli goalkeeper’s complaint.
Emotions continue to heat up as Southampton failed to convert their early second-half chances, whilst Scienza saw a 63rd-minute penalty appeal dismissed by Madley after he tamely slid to ground under a scrappy tug from Ayling after he met Stewart’s pass on a quick counter-attack.
Morgan Whittaker meanwhile curled a 68th-minute shot wide of the top-left corner as the match began to turn nervy for both players and fans alike, aware that extra time was a possibility.
Tensions soon boiled over in the 81st minute after the ball on a Boro attack went out of play, only for the ball boy to refuse to give Matt Targett the ball back which triggered a brief scruffle between the ball boys and Boro players.
Southampton substitute, Cyle Larin nearly completed the Saints’ comeback in the first minute of injury time after he pounced on a pass following an interception on Ayling, but Brynn was alert to block the shot.
Larin a minute later attempted to win a penalty with a dive to the ground amidst tame contact with Fry, but Madley refused to fall for his simulation as the tie ultimately went to extra time.
Southampton proceeded to dominate much of the first half of extra time as their best chance came in the 101st minute from a corner, which was blocked out to Manning who found substitute, Samuel Edozie to shoot towards the bottom left corner but Brynn punched his shot away.
Fatigue soon set in for Boro as their former midfielder, Azaz saw a half-turn shot saved in the 114th minute by Brynn.
Southampton eventually capitalised after Edozie whipped in a low 116th-minute cross which was played out to the right side, where Harwood-Bellis teed up Charles to curl into the far-bottom left corner to put the Saints in front.
Boro eventually couldn’t force a late equaliser as Southampton saw the game out to book their place at Wembley, subject to the outcome of their hearing concerning their alleged spying incident which could see them booted out if found guilty and a sporting sanction applied.
Hellberg was coy when Sky Sports asked post-match what his plans are for the run-up to the play-off final in case Southampton are booted out of the play-offs, as he explained that he was simply “disappointed” that his team currently won’t be at Wembley.
“We had a plan if we won the game and now he haven’t so now I’m disappointed.”
Teams
Southampton: Daniel Peretz, James Bree, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Nathan Wood, Ryan Manning, Caspar Jander (Bragg 119′), Shea Charles, Kuryu Matsuki (Downes 66′), Finn Azaz, Leo Scienza (Edozie 85′, Welington 119′), Ross Stewart (Larin 84′)
Substitutes: Cameron Archer, Cam Bragg, Flynn Downes, Samuel Edozie, Tom Fellows, Cyle Larin George Long, Welington, Jack Stephens
Middlesbrough: Sol Brynn, Luke Ayling (Hansen 119′), Dael Fry, Adilson Malanda, Callum Brittain, Aidan Morris, Riley McGree (Sarmiento 105′), Matt Targett, Morgan Whittaker, Tommy Conway (Browne 73′), David Strelec (Castledine 83′)
Substitutes: Alan Browne, Leo Castledine, George Edmundson, Alex Gilbert, Sontje Hansen, Finlay Munroe, Jeremy Sarmiento, Sammy Silvera, Joe Wildsmith
Referee – Andrew Madley
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