Substitute Gerard Deulofeu produced a game-changing cameo to inspire a brilliant Watford comeback as they reached the FA Cup final with a 3-2 extra-time victory over Wolves at Wembley.
Goals from Matt Doherty and Raul Jimenez either side of half-time looked to have sealed a comfortable triumph for the Midlands side, but Deulofeu’s magnificent curling effort kept the game alive, before Troy Deeney’s 94th-minute penalty forced extra-time.
Deulofeu, left out by Javi Gracia in favour of an extra striker in Andre Gray, then struck again in the 104th minute to end a run of four successive FA Cup semi-final defeats and set up a final meeting with Manchester City next month.
Watford made two changes to the side that relegated Fulham on Tuesday, with Heurelho Gomes getting the nod in goal in what might have been his final game before likely retirement at the end of the season.
Wolves also brought in their regular cup ‘keeper John Ruddy as one of three changes to the side that beat Manchester United on Monday, with Romain Saiss and Jonny also returning.
The wing-back almost found the net inside a minute with a superb curling effort, but it would be the only chance of note in a fairly scrappy opening spell.
On half hour, though, the game came to life as Deeney’s terrific cross was directed over the bar by Gray when he really should have scored.
Leander Dendoncker led the Wolves response to that let-off with an arrowing strike from 25 yards that Gomes did well to push over the bar after a slight deflection off Craig Cathcart, but from the resulting corner Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were ahead.
A short corner caught Watford napping, and when Diogo Jota bent an inviting ball into the back post it found Doherty, who had escaped the attentions of Abdoulaye Doucoure far too easily to nod home.
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Jota went close to adding an immediate second, bending just wide after a weaving run, but Watford would have been level before the break were it not for Conor Coady’s superb block to deny Gray from close range after a typical Deeney knock-down.
Ruben Neves threatened with a devilish free-kick shortly after the restart and Wolves had the second goal that their growing dominance merited just after the hour mark when Jimenez produced a magnificent chest and volleyed finish from Doherty’s high cross.
Deulofeu was sent on to try and add some much-needed spark to a side that had not managed a shot on target, and the Spaniard did the trick, producing a stunning curled clip over Ruddy into the top corner to make the final 10 minutes interesting.
Still Wolves had chances on the break, and looked home and hosed, but when Deeney nipped across the front of Dendoncker and was caught, deep into stoppage time, Michael Oliver had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Deeney stepped up himself to rattle home a bullish penalty and earn an unlikely lifeline.
But it was Deulofeu who would be the hero, finishing low across Ruddy in the first half of extra-time before he was himself substituted because of injury late in the game. Gracia will hope it is not serious, because on this form he surely won't be leaving him out of his line-up for Watford's next Wembley trip in May.
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35 mins: Just starting to come alive this one.
Dendoncker lines one up from range and it takes the slightest of nicks off Cathcart to make it a problem for Gomes, who reacts smartly to tip over the bar.
31 mins: What a chance!
That's the closest we've come, a terrific ball in from Troy Deeney and Andre Gray is free in the middle but lifts his effort over the bar from six yards out. Think he might have been better going with his head.
30 mins: Half an hour gone at Wembley and neither goalkeeper has had a save to make...
26 mins: Corr, that's a real chance.
Wolves caught out by the free-kick which is floated over to Will Hughes at the far post and he sees it all the way but makes a complete mess of his half-volley effort.
25 mins: Again Pereyra is the man causing problems and this time Neves' challenge on him is deemed a foul, and one worthy of a yellow card as well.
22 mins: A promising little run from Pereyra is brought to an end by a sliding challenge from Moutinho right on the edge of the box, but Michael Oliver says he won the ball.
18 mins: Crucial bit of defending from Holebas, just getting a toe on Jonny's cross to help it away from danger.
15 mins: All a little bit scrappy at the moment, with neither midfield really getting a firm grip on possession.
10 mins: First card of the semi-final and it's a deserved one as Saiss goes lunging in on Pereyra and gets done by his turn.
8 mins: Watford just enjoying their first patch of pressure here but have been unable to give John Ruddy much to worry about so far.