By Philip Cornwall At Wembley IN ONE of the best matches ever seen at Wembley, Charlton secured a place in next season's Premiership with the final kick of the season, albeit one from an opponenet. Addicks keeper Sasa Ilic faced up to Michael Gray's penalty after 13 spot-kicks had been successfully converted. The 23-year-old Gray underhit his left-footed attempt after the 13 right-footed men who went before had hit perfect penalties, allowing Ilic to get down low to his left and block the shot with comfort, before racing off to join his teammates. It was a thrilling end to an enthralling afternoon, which had seen Charlton take the first-half lead only to see them trail three times and three times level it, again and again producing an equaliser when it seemed that Sunderland had sealed the game. Clive Mendonca can take a giant portion of the credit, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a play-off final at Wembley, with three goals all scored with supreme confidence and a perfect first touch. The fact that he is a Sunderland fan seemed to provide the perfect irony on the day that the Addicks regained the top-flight status they had lost eight years ago. The crowd was the biggest in play-off history, and they were served up a treat right from the first whistle, although Peter Reid admitted at half-time that his daughter could pass better than the Sunderland side he saw in the first 45 minutes. Charlton struck the first blow after 23 minutes, Mendonca turning Jody Craddock on the edge of the box before firing the ball past Lionel Perez and into the far corner. Two minutes later, Sunderland almost equalised, but Kevin Ball's effort was just a foot wide of the post. The south Londoners had certainly had the best of the first half, but whatever Reid said to his troops at half-time certainly did the trick, because just five minutes after the break they were level. Nicky Summerbee whipped in a corner to the near post and Niall Quinn used all his years of experience to lose Eddie Youds and fire in a header to make it 1-1. Mark Kinsella, the Charlton captain, was on the near post, but not tight to it and couldn't close the gap in time. Quinn then missed a great opportunity to make it two goals in six minutes when he blazed a seven-yard effort over in the 56th minute. However, within 60 seconds, Sunderland were ahead with a fine goal from Phillips. He ran onto a Ball pass to chip Ilic for his 35th goal of the season - a post-war club record breaking Brian Clough's landmark set in the 1961/62 season. Two goals in two minutes added to the tension during an epic second half. Firstly, Mendonca equalised with his second goal in the 71st minute. Shrugging off the challenge of Craddock to control Keith Jones' ball forward, he fired home to the right of Perez. However, as the Addicks' fans celebrated, Sunderland hit back when Quinn fired home his second, controlling the ball to beat Ilic at his near post. Daniele Dichio, on as a substitute for the injured Phillips immediately after that goal, then had a glorious chance to open up a two-goal advantage. With Charlton over-committed, he was completely free in the box when Summerbee's right wing cross came over. But he could do no better from eight yards than play the ball weakly straight at Ilic. On a day when all six substitutes were used, he was the only one not to make a positive impact not even making it into his team's first seven penalty takers. This was underlined when the next goal was set up by Charlton's John Robinson, sent on to try to claw back the situation. Firstly, it took a great save from Perez when Mark Bright diverted Mark Bowen's free kick to keep Sunderland ahead. But when a subsequent corner was swung across by Robinson, Richard Rufus grabbed an equaliser - his first goal for the club - when he rose high at the far post to head home on 85 minutes. Quinn had a chance a minute from the end of 90 minutes after Dichio knocked a cross down to him ten yards out, but the angle was awkward and he couldn't get close with his shot. There were four minutes of stoppages, but neither side looked like getting the last-gasp winner that has decided this fixture in the last two seasons. Sunderland dominated the first half of extra time, and after nine minutes Summerbee, who had had a quiet game up to then, produced a magnificent finish from 15 yards after fine build-up play between Gray and Quinn to put them 4-3 ahead. The Republic of Ireland striker played his former Manchester City teammate in and, after taking the ball into his path, he blasted home to the right of Ilic. A minute before the interval, however, Mendonca turned superbly on the edge of the six-yard box to complete a magnificent hat-trick against his home town club to again level matters. It was a cross from substitute Steve Jones that set up what was Charlton's first decent opening of the half, but in the second period they had two chances to go back in front. First, Shaun Newton found the strength for a 40-yard run but shot a yard wide, then Youds headed wide at a corner with four minutes left. Youds was almost the villain 60 seconds later when he gave away a free-kick ten yards outside his own area, but Alex Rae blasted a lay-off over the bar. The final chance also fell to Sunderland, when Jody Craddock sliced a knock-back by Quinn on another free-kick. When the penalties came, Ilic came closest to stopping one of the first five, just missing Ball's effort - the Rokermen's third - and getting a hand to the fourth, from Chris Makin, but the ball spun in. The seventh penalty, in sudden death, fell to Gray. Wild celebrations followed from Charlton, but Keith Jones immediately rushed to comfort his opponent, reflecting the excellent spirit in which the game had been played. The dejected Wearside fans applauded both their own team and Charlton warmly, before slowly leaving Wembley to the weary, but elated south Londoners.

‘PERHAPS IT WAS SIMPLY MEANT TO BE OUR DAY' SAYS CURBISHLEY   CHARLTON manager Alan Curbishley put the focus on the popping champagne corks and refused to talk about surviving against the Premier League's big guns next season as the Addicks enjoyed the biggest day in their history. I haven't though about what we are going to do next season, or how we are going to do it, he insisted. It would be unfair to the lads to start talking about survival. We have got to enjoy this first. Every player at this club wants to play Premiership football with Charlton, and if we stick with them then they will stick with us. I have seen directors write personal cheques for this club, and I have had to sell players when we have been second in the league to keep this club going. I don't think I have ever seen a game like that in my life. If we had lost it, it would have been unbearable. It would be better to lose 3-0 than to lose a game like this. What a game! It had everything - eight goals and penalties. Perhaps it was simply our day today. It was certainly goalkeeping hero Sasa Ilic's day, saving Michael Gray's penalty to earn Charlton promotion in front of Yugoslavia scouts who could reward him with a World Cup place to go with the prospect of top-flight domestic football. It is difficult to believe that it was only a year ago that he was playing non-league football. Somebody pinch me because I cannot believe this is happening, he said. I will wake up tomorrow morning and wonder where I am. This is one brilliant team and a fantastic club. It would have taken two Sunderland keepers to keep out Clive Mendonca's goals today. Sunderland fan Mendonca became the first player to score a hat-trick in a play-off final and offered an apology to his mates back home: I'd just like to say sorry to all my friends - that's just the way it goes in football. But I am absolutely delighted. That was a great match. Richard Rufus also got on the scoresheet for the first time in his Charlton career, weighing in with an 86th minute header that sent the game into extra-time. I'm pleased to score my first goal, but I'm more pleased to see Charlton in the Premiership, he said. I've been linked with big clubs, but I've always said that I wouldn't mind getting to the Premiership with Charlton. Sunderland manager Peter Reid's thoughts were with Michael Gray. It is harsh when it comes down to one young man like Michael, who has had a good game before the penalty, he said, but that is football - it is the only way. World Cups are decided on penalties and play-offs are decided that way as well. Two-goal striker Niall Quinn was devastated, but optimistic. We know we are the best footballing side in this division, the Irishman said, and we will bounce up again next year. We will be up again with the big boys if we carry on like this, and we will be going for it from day one next season. CHARLTON ATHLETIC: Ilic, Mills (Robinson 76), Bowen, K Jones, Rufus, Youds, Newton, Kinsella, Bright (Brown 93), Mendonca, Heaney (S Jones 65) Booked: Kinsella, Mendonca, Rufus SUNDERLAND: Perez, Holloway (Makin 45), Gray, Clark (Rae 100), Craddock, Williams, Summerbee, Ball, Quinn, Phillips (Dichio 73), Johnston Booked: Holloway, Phillips, Williams. 4-4 After Extra Time Charlton win 7-6 on penalties Charlton Penalties Scored: Mendonca Brown K Jones Kinsella Bowen Robinson Newton Sunderland Penalties Scored: Summerbee Johnson Ball Makin Rae Quinn Missed: Gray Att: 77,739 Ref: E K Wolstenholme (Blackburn)

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