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Football League Championship Play-off Final 2013
Crystal Palace Defeat Watford in Dramatic Final
Phillips' Goal Seals Promotion for Eagles
Crystal Palace have secured promotion to the Premier League after defeating Watford 1-0 in a thrilling play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
Veteran striker Kevin Phillips scored the only goal of the game in the second half, sending Crystal Palace back to the top flight after an eight-year absence.
The match was a closely contested affair, with both teams having chances to win. However, it was Crystal Palace who ultimately proved to be the more clinical side, with Phillips expertly finishing off a cross from Wilfried Zaha.
The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for Crystal Palace, who were in the Championship relegation zone as recently as February. However, the appointment of manager Ian Holloway in October 2012 proved to be the catalyst for a remarkable resurgence, with the club eventually finishing third in the league table.
Watford, meanwhile, will have to wait another year for their chance to return to the Premier League, but they can be proud of their achievements this season. The Hornets finished the regular season in fifth place and overcame Leicester City in the semi-finals to reach the final.
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