Hull City 0-2 Millwall: Substitutes guide Tigers into Championship play-off final Hull City secured their place in the Championship play-off final after a dramatic second leg victory over Millwall at The Den, with late goals from Mo Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt sealing a 2-0 win. The Tigers, who finished 10 points behind third-placed Millwall in the league table, will face either Southampton or Middlesbrough in the final on 23 May, marking their first return to the Premier League since 2017. The match, which followed a goalless first leg, saw Hull’s substitutes make the difference. Belloumi, who replaced the injured Kyle Joseph in the first half, opened the scoring in the 64th minute with a curling effort from the right wing, finding the far post after cutting inside. His goal broke the deadlock and set the stage for Hull’s eventual triumph. Just over a minute later, Gelhardt, introduced as a second-half substitute, added a second goal with a low strike that deflected past Millwall goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. Hull’s manager, Sergej Jakirovic, made two key substitutions in the second half, dropping his two eventual match-winners to bring in Joseph and Semi Ajayi. The tactical switch paid off, as the Tigers’ attacking threat grew, while Millwall’s home advantage waned. The visitors started brightly, with Charlie Hughes drawing a save from Patterson and then heading wide, but Millwall regained control in the second half. The pivotal moment came late in the first half when Joseph’s foot became entangled under a challenge from Thierno Ballo, forcing him off injured. To the surprise of his manager, Belloumi was not immediately brought on, leaving Hull to play with 10 men for a brief period. However, once the second half began, Belloumi’s impact was immediate.#hull_city #millwall #mo_belloumi #joe_gelhardt #sergej_jakirovic
