Watford beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 in a dramatic FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium thanks to a couple of goals - including one in extra time - from substitute Gerard Deulofeu.
Wolves were on the verge of setting up a clash with Manchester City in next month's showpiece as they led by two goals with 11 minutes to play, courtesy of strikes from Matt Doherty and Raul Jimenez in either half.
Deulofeu came off the bench to kickstart his side's comeback with a sensational goal, though, and the Barcelona academy product added a second in extra time after Troy Deeney had levelled from the spot at the very end of normal time.
Relive how the 120 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup semi-final meeting between Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley Stadium.
These two sides are separated by just one point, one place and one goal in the Premier League, setting up what should be a tight encounter to determine who will face Manchester City - 1-0 winners against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday - in next month's final.
This will be the eighth time these sides have faced off in this competition, with the Hornets winning just one of the seven previous encounters - a 3-0 victory in the fifth round in February 1980.
WATFORD TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Gomes; Femenia, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas; Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra; Deeney, Gray
SUBS: Foster, Janmaat, Kabasele, Masina, Quina, Sema, Deulofeu
WOLVES TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Ruddy; Saiss, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny; Jimenez, Jota
SUBS: Bennett, Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs-White, Vinagre, Traore
KICKOFF: Gray is rewarded for his winning goal against Crystal Palace in the last round with a start for Watford today, taking the place of Deulofeu in one of two changes from the Hornets' last outing - cup keeper Gomes also returns in goal, with Foster dropping to the bench. As for Wolves, who get us underway here, Saiss is selected over Bennett in one of three changes.
SHOT! There is an early opportunity for Jonny, who takes the ball inside Femenia and curls it narrowly wide of the target. Watford have been caught cold by Wolves' fast start at Wembley.
Neves cuts out Hughes' pass inside the box to concede the first corner of the game. Ruddy punches Holebas' delivery clear and then plucks it out of the air when Pereyra hooks it back into the area. There is a good tempo to the match early om.
CLOSE! Jota runs at the Watford defence and is caught by Hughes. Wolves have a free kick in a good shooting position, and Moutinho's effort from 20 yards is not bad at all. It skims the roof of the net with Gomes nowhere near it.
Hughes cannot quite bring the ball under control but Moutinho goes right through him to concede a free kick. This is like a boxing match at the moment - the two sides are taking it in turns to throw punches. Who will land the first telling blow?
Wolves have had the better of things so far, with Jonny and Moutinho coming close with their shots from outside the box in the first 10 minutes. Watford have yet to work a shooting opportunity, but that will surely change once they properly settle.
YELLOW CARD! Hughes plays a nice ball into the path of Pereyra and Saiss gets nowhere near the ball when lunging in. Referee Michael Oliver reaches into his pocket for the first time today. Saiss has actually hurt himself by making that challenge and is need of some treatment to his face.
Saiss is made to change his bloodied shirt before returning to the field. Watford's free kick comes to little. Wolves are looking the more settled on the ball, though there has not been a great deal between the sides overall.
Watford are spreading their defenders right across the backline, wary of Wolves' flying wing-backs Doherty and Jonny. That in turn is leaving some space between the centre-backs, which Jota and Jimenez will surely look to target.
Wolves waste a half-decent opportunity to open the scoring with nearly a quarter of this tight semi-final played. Femenia is caught out on the right and the cross into the middle is met by Jota, who cannot find the target with his attempt.
Wanderers are starting to tighten their grip on the match. Watford are not offering a great deal in the final third at the moment, focusing more on restricting their opponents. That said, with 20 minutes gone it is all square.
A quarter of the match has now been played and we are still awaiting the first clear-cut chance. Jonny and Moutinho both came pretty close with their efforts in the first 10 minutes, but neither keeper has had a save to make thus far.
YELLOW CARD! Gracia's men are enjoying their best spell of possession so far, but they are not doing a great deal with the ball. The same has been true of Wolves in a pretty quiet first half at Wembley. Pereyra is pulled back by Neves towards the left, leading to the second booking of the game.
The free kick is well worked to a totally unmarked Hughes inside the box. Around 12 yards from goal, the winger gets his contact all wrong, completely miscuing his half-volley. That is the best Watford have offered so far.
SHOT! The loose ball falls nicely for Deeney to strike from five yards outside the box, but he skies his effort. Watford have been the better side over the last five minutes, looking a lot more threatening than they did in the opening quarter of the game.
Possession has been split near enough 50-50 so far at Wembley, summing things up nicely. Wolves started the better but Watford have started to take control of the contest. We are still awaiting the first on-target shot of the game.
CHANCE! Deeney gets the wrong side of Coady but the ball does not fall for him to shoot. Watford maintain their pressure, though, and Gray meets Deeney's deep delivery, flicking it over the crossbar with just Ruddy to beat. That is the best chance of the game so far by a mile.
That was by no means an easy chance for Gray but, in a game that is likely to remain tight throughout, he has to be doing better. Wolves have struggled to get a hold of the ball for a good 10 minutes now.
Wolves are struggling to cope with Watford's switch to a diamond formation, with Capoue sitting deep and Pereyra offering support to Hughes and Gray. The Hornets have had 75% of the ball over the last 10 minutes.
SAVE! Gomes produces a good save to push Dendoncker's deflected long-ranger over his crossbar. The ball moved slightly with the touch off one of his own players so he did well to keep it out. That is the first save of the match.
GOAL! WATFORD 0-1 WOLVES (MATT DOHERTY)
Doherty's fourth goal in this season's FA Cup gives Wolves the lead! Wanderers work the corner short, Jota curls it into the six-yard box and Doherty gets away from Doucoure to head home from close range.
CLOSE! Wolves, having been second best for a 15-minute spell leading up to their opener, are now well on top. Jota cuts onto his right foot and bends the ball inches wide of the post - it may even have skimmed the frame of the goal on its way through.
STAT! No player has been directly involved in more FA Cup goals in 2018-19 than Doherty (six). Only Newport County's Padraig Amond (five) has scored more goals than the right wing-back.
Watford win a contentious corner, which Ruddy manages to get on the end of after it was worked short. The Wolves supporters are making all the noise now, having seen their side snatch a goal 10 minutes before half time. Can the Hornets respond before the interval?
Jimenez and Jota have linked very well since Wolves opened the scoring - they are starting to play with a lot more freedom, which is bad news for Watford. Gracia would probably accept the half-time whistle now, giving his side a chance to regroup.
CHANCE! Two minutes have been added on at the end of the first half. Watford could easily have gone into the break all square, only for Coady to throw himself at Gray's goal-bound shot to keep his side's lead intact. Brilliant defending!
HALF TIME: WATFORD 0-1 WOLVES
Wolves take a one-goal lead into half time thanks to Doherty's close-range header 36 minutes in. Watford have arguably edged the first half but they failed to convert their two big chances, both falling to Gray. It is all still to play for in the second half!
There was very little between the sides in the opening half an hour of the match, with both teams managing a couple of off-target attempts apiece. Jonny cut inside and curled the ball inches wide and Joao Moutinho skimmed the roof of the net from a free kick for Wolves, while Troy Deeney and Will Hughes were both wayward at the other end.
Watford then carved out a good opportunity for Andre Gray, preferred today to Gerard Deulofeu alongside Deeney, as he got on the end of his strike partner's deep delivery but hooked the ball over the crossbar with just John Ruddy to beat. Just when the Hornets were starting to build some momentum, though, with their diamond formation in midfield causing problems for Wolves, their opponents opened the scoring through Matt Doherty.
The wing-back got away from Abdoulaye Doucoure at the back post and nodded home Diogo Jota's curled cross into the six-yard box after Wolves' corner - coming after Leander Dendoncker's deflected shot was pushed over the bar - was worked short. Wolves nearly scored a second in a matter of minutes as Jota, who grew into the first half, grazed the outside of the post with his curled effort.
Javi Gracia's men should have gone into the interval on level terms, however, as Gray missed his second good opportunity of the half by failing to convert Deeney's knockdown, though credit has to go to Conor Coady for diving in front of the goal-bound shot. With the second half now just a few moments away, here is a reminder of both sides' benches...
WATFORD SUBS: Foster, Janmaat, Kabasele, Masina, Quina, Sema, Deulofeu
WOLVES SUBS: Bennett, Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs-White, Vinagre, Traore
KICKOFF: Watford, who have won just one of their six games in all competitions at Wembley Stadium, get us back underway at Wembley Stadium! Neither manages as made any changes at the break so it is as you were.
SAVE! Pereyra is fortunate to avoid a booking after catching Moutinho in the middle. Watford are then caught sleeping as Jimenez, working the channels, gets plenty of power behind his early shot, which Gomes is happy to palm away.
It goes without saying that the next goal in this match is huge. A second for Wolves and there will surely be no way back for Watford; an equaliser for the Hornets and it really is anyone's game. A cross into the Wanderers box is flicked over by Doucoure.
CHANCE! Wolves are looking good value for a second goal at the start of this second half. Watford are being stretched and Jimenez has an opportunity to squeeze the ball in at the back post, but he cannot quite wrap his boot around Jota's pass. Gomes has an easy catch to make.
This is a great game to watch - there is so little between the two teams. It is Watford's turn to attack but Hughes cannot quite bring the ball under control and Ruddy collects. Deeney then goes to strike the ball, changes his mind and his through-ball is overhit.
YELLOW CARD! Jota gets away from Cathcart down the left and the Watford defender is forced to bring down his opponent, giving away a free kick in a dangerous position and earning a yellow card in the process.
CLOSE! Neves goes for goal from the free kick, despite the angle being against him, and half of Wembley thinks he has succeeded in finding the far corner. It drops just wide, though, with none of his teammates able to get a touch to the ball.
Deeney gets to a floated free kick ahead of anyone else but he is on the way back down by the time he makes contact and his header sails wide of the target. Watford have looked dangerous but they have not managed a shot on target yet as Gray shoots wide.
An hour has been played at Wembley Stadium - which manager will be first to blink by turning to their bench? Watford trail to a first-half header from Doherty but they do look as though they have a goal in them. This one could yet go the distance.
Neves, a full 30 yards from goal, sends his swerving shot well wide of the target. Deulofeu has been sent to warm up by Gracia.
YELLOW CARD! There have been plenty of nearly moments for Watford in this second period. Wolves are managing to deal with the danger but this pressure will surely tell eventually. Nuno will be desperate for a second goal. Holebas drags down the countering Jota to earn a yellow.
GOAL! WATFORD 0-2 WOLVES (RAUL JIMENEZ)
Jimenez controls Doherty's pass from deep with his chest and sends it past Gomes with an acrobatic finish from close range. After a brief VAR check to see if he was offside, the goal is awarded. Wolves are heading to the final!
WATFORD SUB! Jimenez was marginally onside for that second goal, as confirmed by the VAR check. Gracia has responded to that setback by bringing on Deulofeu, who will feel he should have started today, for Hughes.
Watford will feel totally crushed after that second Wolves goal. The Hornets have toiled all afternoon and their inability to put the ball in the back of the net looks as though it is going to haunt them. Deulofeu and Moutinho exchange words; the referee warns them to calm down.
Michael Oliver goes to VAR to see what that exchange of words between Deulofeu and Moutinho was all about. I'm not entirely sure, but the man in the middle sees no reason to book - or send off - either player.
Jimenez goes down and stays down. Watford are dominating possession but they looked more likely to score at 1-0 than they have done at 2-0. In fact, Wanderers are looking good value for a third goal on the counter.
The match has gone a little stale now, which will suit Wolves just fine. The ball bounces in Wanderers' box but Ruddy, who has still not had a save to make today, pounces on the ball. Watford have a little over 15 minutes to find a couple of goals.
Jota, who has been superb today, drives at Watford's defence and forces a throw out of Mariappa high up the pitch. Nuno's men are seeing out this match in a professional manner. Doherty's first touch lets him down, otherwise he would have been in.
Doucoure arrives at the back post but cannot make the contact he wanted with the ball. Watford are once again building some pressure but until they get a shot on target they will not find a way through. Wolves, meanwhile, are focusing solely on the counter.
It is bodies on the line time for Wolves now as a number of crosses come into the box. Watford are getting into some dangerous positions and if they can nick one we really will have a thrilling finale on our hands.
GOAL! WATFORD 1-2 WOLVES (GERARD DEULOFEU)
This is sensational from Deulofeu! Wolves think they have cleared a long throw into the box but from a standing start the Barcelona academy product curls the ball over Ruddy, who can only stand and watch it spin over his head. I don't even know how to describe that technique!
That was a truly phenomenal goal from Deulofeu, scoring from Watford's first shot on target. The Hornets are now the side with all the momentum and, with around 10 minutes still to play, you would not bet against them scoring a second.
Jimenez heads the corner clear at the front post. Watford are all over Wolves and win another corner on the left, which Pereyra against sends to the front post, where Jimenez is again waiting to meet it. Wolves could do with full time.
WOLVES SUB! Doherty goes on a mazy run but there is nothing to show for it. Still, Wolves have at least managed to get the ball out of their own half, relieving some of the pressure on their defenders. These remaining seven minutes or so will feel like a lifetime for the Wanderers fans in attendance. Bennett is on for Neves.
This Wanderers pressure is pretty relentless now. Ruddy does well to command his box and get two hands to a ball into the middle, though, eating up some further seconds. There is surely one more big chance in this match for the Hornets to salvage extra time.
SHOT! Not sure if this can go into the 'big chance' category, but it is a chance all the same. The ball falls for Holebas, who has enough time to control the ball before hammering it over the crossbar. Cavaleiro is on for Jota.
Deeney tries to block Dendoncker's punt upfield. The Wolves midfielder stays down and Deeney tells him to get back up. Four minutes have been added on at Wembley, so there is still time for Watford to find the goal their supporters crave.
PENALTY! MASSIVE DRAMA!! Deeney is caught by Dendoncker in the box, preventing the Watford skipper from getting on the end of Femenia's cross, and Michael Oliver points to the spot. After a VAR check, the decision is allowed to stand.
GOAL! WATFORD 2-2 WOLVES (TROY DEENEY, PEN)
Deeney nearly takes off the back of the net with his penalty, surely sending us through to extra time. Ruddy gets something to the ball but it has so much power that the Wolves keeper is unable to keep it out.
END OF 90 MINUTES: WATFORD 2-2 WOLVES
Unbelievable drama at Wembley! Wolves were two goals up with 11 minutes to go, but Deulofeu's magical strike and Deeney's last-gasp penalty has sent us through to extra time. Stick with us for another 30 minutes of action!
KICKOFF: Watford get this period of extra time underway. Wolves, remember, have taken off Jota, thinking the game was won inside 90 minutes.
Wolves have used the break between full time of normal time and extra time to regroup a little. Wanderers are back on top, as they were for large periods of the 90 minutes.
SAVE! A cross into the box is controlled by Jonny and smashed on target. Gomes gets a slight touch to the ball to help it over for a corner kick. This is already a lot better from Nuno's men, having had the life sucked out of them by Deeney's pen.
Holebas goes to the ground clutching his hamstring and is in need of some treatment. Watford have not got going in this first period of extra time so they will use this stoppage wisely.
Masina was ready to come on but Gracia has decided against making the change as Holebas has decided that he can run off this hamstring injury. Nuno has seen enough, though - Traore is being readied to come on.
WATFORD SUB! Holebas was back on the field for all of a minute before realising that he cannot continue after all. Masina is brought on in a like-for-like change. Traore will also enter the pitch in the next few minutes.
YELLOW CARD! Capoue sticks out his left leg to halt the run of Dendoncker and is rightly shown a yellow card. Nuno brings on Traore for Moutinho in an attacking change. There are around four more minutes of the half to play and both sets of players are beginning to tire.
YELLOW CARD! Wolves are clearly keen to get Traore on the ball whenever they can, putting his fresh legs - and incredible pace - to good use. Wanderers have definitely had the better of this half, testing Gomes early on through Jonny.
GOAL! WATFORD 3-2 WOLVES (GERARD DEULOFEU)
WATFORD LEAD!! Having trailed by two goals with 11 minutes of normal time to play, the Hornets have a one-goal advantage at the end of the first half of extra time. Deulofeu is slipped in by Gray and he calmly slots the ball across Ruddy into the far corner.
HALF TIME IN EXTRA TIME: WATFORD 3-2 WOLVES
We have certainly not been short of drama at Wembley today. Watford are in front for the first time today thanks to Deulofeu's composed finish across Ruddy, who perhaps could have done more to keep it out. Wolves have 15 minutes to rescue themselves.
KICKOFF: Wolves get us back underway at Wembley Stadium. Nuno has sent his players out fired up for this second period of extra time. Will we be treated to some more drama?
There was a change for Wolves during the short interval as Vinagre is on for the tired Jonny. Watford's supporters are making plenty of noise now - they are 15 minutes away from seeing their side book a place in the final, against all the odds.
Gracia wisely waited for play to resume before making his next change, eating up some more valuable seconds. Femenia is replaced by Janmaat for the final 11 minutes or so. There have been no chances since Deulofeu's second goal.
Cavaleiro sends in a teasing cross and Jimenez looked as though he was going to get there first. Gomes did enough to get a fist to it, though, preventing the Wolves striker from scoring an equaliser. Deulofeu is receiving some treatment.
WATFORD SUB! How about this. Deulofeu was brought off the bench in the second half of normal times, scored two goals to put his side on course for the final and he has now been replaced by Sema after failing to shake off the knee injury.
Watford had a number of nearly moments at 1-0 and 2-0 down; now it is Wolves' turn to turn the screw without getting anywhere. Jimenez is picked out in the box but cannot set himself for the shot. This second period of extra time has been very scrappy.
The Hornets are now just a few minutes away from a place in the FA Cup final - who saw that coming an hour ago when they were two goals down. Traore infuriates his manager by taking the wrong option, just when his side had been building some pressure.
CHANCE! Cavaleiro does the hard work by rounding Gomes but he cannot control the ball and tap it into the net. Wolves win a corner but Watford clear the danger and stand strong when the ball arrives back in the middle. This game is remaining gripping right until the final seconds.
Ruddy punts the free kick forward but Watford once again stand firm. Deeney heads for the corner flag but he is deemed to be offside, so Wolves will have one final change to launch the ball forward. There are 60 seconds left to play at Wembley.
FULL TIME: WATFORD 3-2 WOLVES
WATFORD ARE INTO THE FA CUP FINAL!
Watford beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 in a dramatic FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium thanks to a couple of goals - including one in extra time - from substitute Gerard Deulofeu. Wolves were on the verge of setting up a clash with Manchester City in next month's showpiece as they led by two goals with 11 minutes to play, courtesy of strikes from Matt Doherty and Raul Jimenez in either half. Deulofeu came off the bench to kickstart his side's comeback with a sensational goal, though, and the Barcelona academy product added a second in extra time after Troy Deeney had levelled from the spot at the very end of normal time.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage from this dramatic tie at Wembley Stadium. Before heading off, though, be sure to check out this on-the-whistle report, and join us again tomorrow for updates from Chelsea's Premier League meeting with West Ham United. See you then!
