Shootout thriller! Mooy's Huddersfield seal EPL promotion

Caltex Socceroo Aaron Mooy has helped Huddersfield Town earn promotion to the English Premier League after his side’s thrilling win in the Championship Play-off Final on Tuesday (AEST).

The Aussie midfielder played a crucial role in Huddersfield’s 4-3 penalty shootout win over Reading in front of almost 77,000 fans at Wembley Stadium.

The game finished 0-0 after extra-time.

Mooy - on loan from Manchester City – played the full game and dispatched a vital penalty in the shootout to help David Wagner’s side book their spot in England’s top flight next season.

With his side trailing 3-2 in the shootout after an early miss, Mooy stepped up and coolly slotted his spot kick to level the scores and keep his side in the contest.

And after Huddersfield keeper Danny Ward saved Reading’s fifth penalty attempt, Terriers defender Christopher Schindler scored to seal Town’s promotion to the EPL.

Huddersfield started brightly and should have taken the lead inside five minutes with Mooy’s teasing free-kick inexplicably headed wide by Michael Hefele from close range.

Town continued to press and missed another golden opportunity less than five minutes later with Izzy Brown turning the ball the wrong side of the post from point-blank range.

Reading settled into the contest as the first half progressed and began to enjoy sustained periods of possession without threatening in front of goal.

The Royals fashioned their first real chance just after the interval with John Swift firing a powerful strike on goal which was comfortably swatted away by Terriers keeper Danny Ward.

A cagey affair developed in the second half with both sides struggling to fashion any real clear-cut chances as the game headed into extra time.

The pace of the game slowed in the extra period as fatigue began to take its toll, with Garath McCleary coming closest for Reading with a fizzing strike from distance. 

And it was no surprise to see penalties decide the contest with Christopher Schindler etching his name into Huddersfield Town folklore with the decisive spot kick.

For Huddersfield, it will be their first time back in England's top flight since the 1971/72 campaign. 

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