Watford sealed their place in the 2019 FA Cup final, where they will face Manchester City after coming from 2 goals down to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers after extra-time after Watford manager Javi Gracia made a brilliant substitution to bring on Gerard Deulofeu.
Wolves started the match brightly, as wing-back Jonny curled a shot just over the bar inside the opening minute. Joao Moutinho sent a free kick which hit the top of the net with Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes well-beaten. Then Watford striker Troy Deeney played in a beautiful ball but team-mate Andre Gray could not convert as he put his shot just over the post, although he probably should have headed the ball rather than gone with his foot.
The first save either goalkeeper had to make fell for Heurelho Gomes, who made a good save from a Leander Dendoncker shot. From the resulting corner, after a brilliant routine, right wing-back Matt Doherty headed Wolves into the lead. Having got that goal, then Diogo Jota bent a shot just wide of the post. However, Watford could not be discarded just yet, and Wolves defender and captain Conor Coady made a vital block from an Andre Gray shot just before half-time in order to preserve Wolves' lead going into the break.
Wolves were very solid defensively though were still possessing a threat on the counter-attack, and Diogo Jota earned Wolves a free-kick, and from the resulting set-piece Raul Jimenez scored to double their lead, and the goal stood despite a VAR check for possible offside. On the 66th minute Watford manager Gracia decided to put on Deulofeu in place of Will Hughes, and 12 minutes later it had the desired effect as Deulofeu scored a wonderful chip to haul Watford back in the contest. The drama was not over there, as, in the 2nd minute of stoppage time, referee Michael Oliver awarded Watford a penalty after a foul by Leander Dendoncker on captain Troy Deeney inside the penalty area, and Deeney coolly converted the resultant spot kick to force extra-time.
Wolves actually started extra-time pretty positively, and Jonny forced a good save out of Watford goalkeeper Gomes. Then in the 104th minute the decisive moment of the match came. Gerard Deulofeu ran with the ball inside the area, and although Coady tried to force him out wide, he did not manage to force him wide enough - and Deulofeu finished brilliantly. Wolves did have one decent chance in the second half of extra-time when Ivan Cavaleiro went round Gomes but ended up trodding on the ball and the chance was lost, and ultimately Watford saw out the contest to ensure that they will be returning to Wembley in May.