Substitute Gerard Deulofeu came off the bench to score the first and third goals in a 3-2 victory over Wolves at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final. Tory Deeney forced extra-time with a 94th minute penalty.
Watford booked their place in the FA Cup final with a stunning 3-2 comeback after extra time against Wolves. Wolves looked to be cruising, but Deulofeu changed the game and gave Javi Gracia's side the victory.
Wolves started the game brightly and almost scored in less than 60 seconds. Jonny received the ball on the edge of the box, he turned inside and curled it just around the post. And a few minutes later, Joao Moutinho hit the top of the net with a free kick. Watford also had an early corner and it was a very open start to the game.
Nuno Espirito Santo's men definitely looked the more dangerous early on and Jota was causing havoc for the Watford defenders. His pacy runs and his dangerous crosses caused panic in the Watford defence on every occasion. After a frenetic first 15 minutes, the game started to calm down. After a 10 minute lull, it was Watford who started to dominate.
Gray had one shot which went well over the crossbar in the 26th minute, but he would have an even better opportunity five minutes later. Deeney put in a superb cross for Andre Gray and the ex-Burnley man stuck his foot out to reach the ball. Unfortunately for him, he sent it just over the goal. In fact, the 5 minutes before Wolves took the lead, Watford had 75% possession.
Heurelho Gomes was called into action to tip over a Dendoncker effort in the 35th minute and from the resulting corner, Wolves drew first blood. It was taken short, Jota then sent in a magnificent ball for Doherty at the far post who headed in from inside the six yard box. Doucoure was caught ball watching and lost sight of his man.
The goal gave the team from the Midlands a lift and Jota nearly doubled their lead just three minutes later. The Portuguese showed great footwork, he dribbled 30 yards with the ball, but just like Jonny at the beginning of the game, he curled it just wide.
As Watford were on the ropes and crying out for half-time, Watford nearly equalised with almost the last kick of the half. Hughes launched the ball into the box, Deeney flicked it on to Andre Gray and his shot was going goalbound before Coady dived in to divert it for a corner.
After the break, Wolves once again looked the stronger and Jimenez almost netted after a long punt forward by Saiss. He was denied by Gomes though. Then in the 51st minute, Jota and Jimenez combined again, but there was no end product.
After Neves hit a shot off target, Wolves finally made it 2-0. Holebas fouled Jota in Watford territory and the resulting free-kick was Watford's undoing. The free-kick was taken short, Doherty put it in the melting pot, Raul Jimenez controlled it with his chest before volleying into the back of net. The VAR checked for offside, but Femenia's foot was playing him on.
In the 66th minute, Deulofeu came on for Hughes and everything changed. Gray had a header over the bar in the 69th minute, but Wolves did not seem to be too concerned. The Wolves fans were in full voice and probably thinking about another trip to Wembley, but Deulofeu had something to say about that.
From around the 75th minute onwards, Watford started to show more attacking intent and they had 63% possession of the ball. When it seemed Wolves would hold out, Deulofeu halved the deficit in the 79th minute. Holebas took a long throw-in, Wolves half-cleared it to Deulofeu inside the area, he took a couple of touches before chipping it over the defenders' heads and into the far corner. A stunning strike.
That set up a grandstand finish and from that moment on, it was a Watford siege. Wolves were hanging on by a thread praying for full time. Javi Gracia's side had a few corners in no time and there was constant pinball in the Wolves box. Wolves went up the other end on one occasion and Doherty should have shot after zig-zagging in the box, but he was too unselfish.
Holebas struck the ball over Ruddy's goal in the 88th minute from the edge of the area and even though they were dominating, it looked like they would run out of time. Troy Deeney even showed his frustration as he fouled Deendoncker right on 90 minutes. In the second of four added minutes, Wolves' resistance broke.
Doucoure crossed for Deeney, who was felled by Deendoncker. Michael Oliver pointed to the penalty spot and the VAR confirmed it. It was a penalty to force extra time and Deeney made no mistake. He smashed it down the middle and Ruddy was unable to save it. He nearly did with his body, but he could not. Wolves' gamble of taking off Jota to shore things up at the back had backfired.
Despite the setback, Wolves were better at the start of extra time. Cavaleiro had a shot at Gomes early on and Jonny had a deflected shot knocked over the bar by Gomes. Watford also had the odd attack, but the Wolves defence appeared firm, until Deulofeu popped up to score the winner in the 104th minute.
Deeney flicked on to Gray who then laid off the ball to Deulofeu. He then played a nice one-two with Gray and the Spaniard from about 10 yards out and a bit to the side of the goal, went past Coady and slotted the ball in the far corner. Ruddy tried to prevent it with his outstretched leg, but to no avail. He even wanted more in the second period before he was finally forced off in the 112th minute after clashing knees with Ruben Vinagre, but his contribution had been more than decisive.
Wolves did not give up attacking, but they were unable to find an equaliser. They had various corners, but Watford looked to be holding on easily until the final five minutes. Traore sent in a few terrible crosses though. Jimenez spurned a glorious opportunity for Wolves and Cavaleiro an even better one in the 118th minute. He went round Gomes, but the ball got struck in between his feet and a defender booted it out for a corner.
Watford got a bit carried away and decided not to go to the corner flag. In the 122th minute, it was last chance saloon for Wolves. They sent three crosses into the penalty area, but Doherty could not connect with one, Vinagre saw one cleared and despite the Wolves siege, Watford held on.
Watford's players and fans were jubilant at the end of the game and Wolves were thoroughly disappointed. There were just two minutes away from going to face Man City in the final before they conceded the penalty. It was a fantastic cup tie between two even sides which was decided by the brilliance of one man: Gerard Deulofeu.