Joe Bryan scored twice in extra-time to help Fulham secure an immediate return to the Premier League with victory over Brentford in the Championship play-off at Wembley on Tuesday.
A goalless ninety minutes exploded in the second-half of extra-time as Brentford’s bad luck in play-off finals continued.
Left-back Bryan took advantage of Bees goalkeeper David Raya’s poor positioning to score from a free-kick 40 yards out in the 105th minute of the game.
Raya was expecting a cross but Bryan shot straight at goal catching the goalkeeper off-guard as he was unable to scamper back and save the effort.
With Brentford pouring forward in search of an equaliser, Fulham counter-attacked with Bryan exchanging a one-two with substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic before prodding past Raya to make the game safe with three minutes remaining.
Henrik Dalsgaard pulled a goal back with a header from eight yards out in the fourth minute of added time, but it was too late for the Bees to spark a comeback.
Fulham boss Scot Parker celebrated wildly at full-time after leading the club he captained as a player to promotion in his first full season as manager.
Parker, 39, replaced Claudio Ranieri in February 2019 but was unable to stop Fulham from dropping from the top-flight relegation but they can now prepare for a 15th campaign in the Premier League alongside fellow promoted sides Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.
