Crystal Palace will play in the Premier League next season after beating Watford 1-0 at Wembley Stadium on an extra-time penalty kick by Kevin Phillips. Palace returns to the top flight of English soccer after an eight-year absence.
The match to decide the third promoted team from the League Championship is worth at least $181 to the winner. The figure is calculated on prize money and payments based on the worst-case scenario that the team finishes last in its first season and is relegated. It doesn't include sponsorship, ticket and merchandise sales.
Less than two months before his 40th birthday, Phillips came off the bench to smash his penalty kick past Manuel Almunia in the 105th minute after Wilfried Zaha was fouled by Marco Cassetti.
Almunia kept Watford in the match with several saves during regulation. He dived the correct way for the penalty kick, but his right hand failed to touch Phillips' fierce shot.
''I picked my spot and stuck to it. I don't know if that's going to be my last match. But if it is, what a way to sign off,'' Phillips said before paying tribute to Zaha in his final game for Palace. ''This man goes to Manchester United now with our very best wishes.''
Zaha earned the penalty kick by enticing Cassetti into lunging in as the Palace forward dribbled into the box.
''I'm very tired and I'm very happy,'' Zaha said. ''Walking into the stadium full of so many people is just amazing. I'm going to have to get used to it.''
