Middlesbrough advanced to the league Championship playoff final at Wembley by beating Brentford 3-0 Friday in the second leg of their semi-final.
Goals from lee Tomlin, Kike and Albert Adomah gave the hosts a 5-1 aggregate victory. Aitor Karanka's team will travel to Wembley for the first time since the 1998 league Cup final to take on either Ipswich or Norwich on May 25 for a place in the Premier league.
Tomlin put Middlesbrough in the 23rd minute with a shot inside the near post and Kike smashed home the second after the ball fell to him in the area in the 55th. Adomah cemented the win when he exchanged passes with Tomlin and fired home off the underside of the crossbar in the 78th.
Norwich reach C’ship playoff final
Norwich: Norwich is one game away from returning to the Premier league after beating 10-man Ipswich 3-1 on Saturday to reach the league Championships playoff final. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Norwich advanced 4-2 on aggregate and will face Middlesbrough in the Wembley final on May 25.
After a tense first half, the game turned when Ipswich defender Christophe Berra was sent off for handball on the line and Wes Hoolahan slotted in the resulting penalty.
Ipswich equalized on the hour when Tommy Smith converted from close range but Norwich went back ahead through Nathan Redmond. Cameron Jerome rolled in the third to seal the win.