Southampton Set Up Wembley Showdown with Hull After Latr Drama vs Middlesbrough

Saints edged Boro

Southampton will face Hull City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday, 23 May. Southampton beat Middlesbrough 2-1 after extra time, while Hull won 2-0 away at Millwall.

Southampton edged Boro, Hull defeated Millwall . The winner joins Coventry and Ipswich in the Premier League...

Southampton will meet Hull City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday, 23 May, after edging past Middlesbrough 2-1 in extra time on Tuesday night.

The Saints’ path to the final has been overshadowed by controversy. From the start of the play-offs, Southampton faced accusations of spying on one of Middlesbrough’s training sessions.

An official investigation into the ‘Spygate’ allegations is still underway. You can read the full details here.

The game started at high intensity, with Middlesbrough taking an early lead. Riley McGree finished off a low cross from Callum Brittain after Brittain drove down the right and delivered into the box.

Southampton hit back quickly. Ryan Manning and Ross Stewart both went close, and Stewart missed a clear opening before controversy struck when he was pulled down in the area by Brittain. Appeals for a penalty were rejected by the referee.

WE'VE DONE IT! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/MF0lbd2H4C

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 12, 2026

The Saints’ pressure paid off in first-half stoppage time. Sol Brynn pushed away Leo Scienza’s free-kick volley from Manning, and Stewart headed home the rebound to make it 1-1.

Southampton controlled the ball for much of the second half but found it hard to carve out clear chances. Brynn made another save to keep them out, and Manning fired a rebound just wide after Luke Ayling got a touch on the ball.

Fatigue set in for both teams as the game dragged on into extra time.

In the added period, Samuel Edozie was thwarted by a strong stop from Brynn with penalties looking likely. Southampton sealed it late when Shea Charles’ long-range cross-shot sailed past everyone and curled into the far corner for the winner.

Hull booked their place in the play-off final with a 2-0 win away at Millwall on Monday night. The result came after a goalless draw in the first leg of their semi-final tie.

Mohamed Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt scored the goals that sent the Tigers to Wembley, capping a chaotic season that began under a transfer embargo. Just months earlier, Hull had narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.

 

Wembley AGAIN 😍 pic.twitter.com/pdEtyQdHcS

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 12, 2026

The Championship final is set for Saturday, 23 May. The victor will join Coventry and Ipswich in the Premier League next season.