FA Cup: Gerard Deulofeu double takes Watford into final after extra-time thriller

Watford produced one of the great FA Cup comebacks to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 after extra time in a memorable semi-final at Wembley Stadium.   

Two-goal substitute Gerard Deulofeu proved Watford's hero, as they reached the FA Cup final for the first time in 35 years in astonishing fashion on Monday (NZ time).

The Spaniard scored a sensational individual goal to drag his side back into the match, when they were 2-0 down with 11 minutes left, and then slotted home the winner in the opening period of extra time.

Striker Troy Deeney also enhanced his folk-hero status at Watford, by nervelessly converting a penalty with the final kick of stoppage time in the 94th minute to enable the Hornets to take the game into extra time.   

A first-half header from Matt Doherty, and a dazzling piece of skill that saw Mexican Raul Jimenez chest down and volley home acrobatically just after the hour, looked enough for Wolves to prevail in the all-Premier League clash.   

Yet an equally virtuoso 79th-minute goal from Deulofeu - a magnificently executed curling chip - set up the fantastic finale, which saw Deeney blast home from the spot, after being brought down by Leander Dendoncker.   

Spanish international Deulofeu then delivered the killer blow a minute before the break of extra time, driving past Conor Coady on the right, before slipping the ball across John Ruddy and into the net.

The win earned Watford a date with Manchester City in Wembley final on May 18, after the overwhelming favourites beat Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 in the other semi-final.   

This will be Watford's second-ever FA Cup final, after losing to Everton in 1984.   

Reuters