West Ham sink Blackpool to clinch promotion

West Ham clinched promotion to the Premier League as Ricardo Vaz Te's late winner sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Blackpool in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday.

Updated on: May 19, 2012, 22:05:48 IST

AFP | By HT Correspondent, London

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West Ham clinched promotion to the Premier League as Ricardo Vaz Te's late winner sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Blackpool in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday.

Sam Allardyce's side survived a nervous start to take the lead through Carlton Cole's first half strike, but Tom Ince equalised soon after the break and Blackpool had several good chances to go ahead.

Portuguese forward Vaz Te made the Seasiders pay for their profligacy when he struck from close-range in the 87th minute to ensure the Hammers returned to the top-flight just 12 months after relegation.

Vaz Te's winner was crucial for a club who had invested heavily in winning promotion and the east London outfit's place in the Premier League will rake in between ?45 million and 90 million in increased revenue according to varying reports.

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