Barnsley played for almost 80 minutes with 10 menJosh Windass scored the winning goal in the League One play-off final with the last action of extra time as Sheffield Wednesday beat 10-man Barnsley in the most dramatic circumstances.
With a third EFL play-off final in as many days seemingly destined for penalties, Windass headed beyond Harry Isted's despairing dive to send the Owls up to the Championship at the expense of their South Yorkshire rivals.
It was cruel on the Tykes who had been a man down since the 49th minute when Adam Phillips was shown a straight red for a poor challenge on Lee Gregory.
In an action-packed period of extra time, Isted saved brilliantly from Michael Smith and Barry Bannan and Luca Connell missed a sitter for the Reds before Wednesday came up with the latest of late winners.
It was perhaps fitting for Wednesday to win promotion in such remarkable fashion given their run to this Wembley showdown.
Darren Moore's men looked on course for automatic promotion with a club-record 23-game unbeaten run.
However, that ended when the Tykes beat them 4-2 in March and they eventually finished third behind Plymouth and Ipswich with 96 points - the highest number of points ever accumulated to not be enough to go up automatically.
They then fell to a thumping 4-0 defeat in the first leg of their play-off semi-final with Peterborough to leave their promotion hopes in tatters as fans booed the team from the pitch.
Backed by a raucous Hillsborough they stunned Posh to equalise the tie on aggregate with the final kick of the 90 minutes in the second leg before winning on penalties. It was the first time a team had ever overcome more than a 2-0 deficit in a play-off semi-final.
For long periods of Monday's League One final it seemed like that would be as good as it got for the Owls. But in the last second of the game Windass dived to head Gregory's cross in powerfully and send 44, 000 Wednesday fans into pandemonium while breaking Barnsley hearts.
Brilliant Isted finally beaten
There was little sign of the drama to come after a first half which had started brightly but quickly faded.
The game came to life after the break though, first Gregory seemed to be fortunate to get away with a challenge on Liam Kitching in his own penalty area with VAR checking it but deciding to stick with referee Tim Robinson's decision not to award a penalty.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore is celebrating his first promotion as a managerMoments later Gregory and Phillips went in for a slide tackle 40 yards from Wednesday's goal and, after taking a moment, Robinson produced his red card for Phillips. Again, the decision went to VAR and they stuck with Robinson's call.
Despite being a man down Michael Duff's men used the setback to push on.
Kitching deflected a Nicky Cadden volley on to the crossbar with his head and Cameron Dawson was forced into smart saves by Cadden and James Norwood. Barnsley's backline stood up comfortably to Wednesday's long balls.
After such a long season and on a hot day at the national stadium the two teams could have been excused for dropping off in extra time but the additional 30 provided unbelievable drama.
Luton loanee Isted, who made a good save in the first half from Dominic Iorfa, pulled off a miraculous stop from Smith from close range and then got down brilliantly to turn Bannan's effort around the post.
Kitching then charged forward from centre-back and played Luke Thomas in before he squared for Connell at the back post. Just six yards out and with the goal gaping he skewed his shot wide to the disbelief of the Barnsley fans.
Wednesday substitute Will Vaulks then thought he had given the Owls the lead after half-time in extra time but the celebrations were curtailed by an offside flag.
Tykes skipper Mads Andersen produced a great block from Windass from close in and that looked to be the final meaningful act.
However, Windass, like father Dean, who scored the winning goal for Hull City in the Championship play-off final in 2008, would have the final say.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Barnsley
Formation 3-5-2
1Isted
12Thomas6Andersen5Kitching
2Williams30Phillips48Connell8Kane7Cadden
31Tedic44Cole
1Isted12ThomasBooked at 95mins6Andersen5Kitching2Williams30PhillipsBooked at 49mins48Connell8KaneSubstituted forBensonat 72'minutesSubstituted forRussellat 90+1'minutes7CaddenSubstituted forWattersat 105'minutes31TedicSubstituted forNorwoodat 45'minutes44ColeSubstituted forThomasat 72'minutesSubstitutes
3Russell9Norwood10Benson16Thomas24Cundy40Collins47WattersSheff Wed
Formation 3-4-1-2
25Dawson
6Iorfa20Ihiekwe33James
13Paterson2Palmer10Bannan18Johnson
11Windass
24Smith9Gregory
25Dawson6Iorfa20Ihiekwe33JamesSubstituted forHuntat 103'minutes13PatersonSubstituted forVaulksat 79'minutes2Palmer10BannanSubstituted forDele-Bashiruat 116'minutes18Johnson11Windass24Smith9GregorySubstitutes
3Brown4Vaulks8Adeniran17Dele-Bashiru31Stockdale32Hunt44FlintReferee:Tim RobinsonAttendance:72,492Live Text
Match ends, Barnsley 0, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
Second Half Extra Time ends, Barnsley 0, Sheffield Wednesday 1.
Goal! Barnsley 0, Sheffield Wednesday 1. Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Lee Gregory with a cross.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury James Norwood (Barnsley).
Foul by Dominic Iorfa (Sheffield Wednesday).
Liam Kitching (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) header from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Jack Hunt with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Lee Gregory (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jack Hunt.
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru replaces Barry Bannan because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday).
Foul by Liam Palmer (Sheffield Wednesday).
James Norwood (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Josh Windass (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Liam Kitching (Barnsley).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday).
Attempt saved. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Offside, Sheffield Wednesday. Will Vaulks tries a through ball, but Jack Hunt is caught offside.
