Sheffield Wednesday 1 Huddersfield Town 1 (Town win 4-3 on penalties) Danny Ward returns to send Terriers to Wembley

Ward saved from Sam Hutchinson and Fernando Forestieri in the first and fifth round of penalties, with Jack Payne’s miss for Town proving immatieral as Huddersfield’s fans began planning their trip to North London.

Steven Fletcher’s 51st-minute header and 11th goal of the season had provided the Owls with the all-important breakthrough, but Town - inspired by substitute Collin Quaner - dominated the final 20 minutes and levelled when Tom Lees diverted Quaner’s cross into his own net under pressure from Nahki Wells.

Chances came and went at both ends in the extra half hour, but a second goal was not forthcoming, prompting the need for the dreaded shoot-out, which ultimately left the hosts and their fervent support floored.

Wednesday made one change, with fit-again Sam Hutchinson coming in for Adam Reach, neccessitating a switch to the left for Barry Bannan.

Town brought back Danny Ward from suspension in place of Joel Coleman as they sought to put an end to their eight-match winless sequence against the Owls at the perfect juncture.

The Owls were forced into an early change with Ross Wallace - who scored a spectacular goal against Town in the league fixture at Hillsborough in January - forced off just five minutes in after appearing to tweak a hamstring, with Reach afforded a quick introduction.

It was Reach who had the first decent effort in a tense, cagey opening which carried on from where the first leg left off, with his hooked volley blocked by Ward, with an offside flag quickly raised against Fletcher in the immediate aftermath.

Despite pockets of encouragement for the hosts, Town settled relatively well and enjoyed some decent possession and carved out a big chance in the context of the tie on 25 minutes.

Rajiv Van La Parra sent Nahki Wells free on the left and his low cross found Izzy Brown, who should have been better from about eight yards out, but his effort clipped the post.

It was a major warning for Wednesday, who saw Hutchinson pick up a booking for a strong challenge on Brown moments before his chance.

A barometer of Wednesday’s patchy opening half-hour saw Fletcher elect to pick out Fernando Forestieri after Bannan’s fine pass over the top, with the striker was offered a sight of goal - with his pass intercepted and cleared.

Soon after, Hutchinson hooked a shot comfortably over following Lees’ header, with the polish and composure on show coming from the visitors at the other end, with Town picking up a booking shortly before the break when Jonathan Hogg body-checked Forestieri.

After a low-key, nerve first half, the Owls needed a fillip and they got it seven minutes in.

A move started by Fletcher was ended in outstanding fashion by the Scottish striker, who got above Christopher Schindler to steer home a lovely cushioned header following a perceptive cross from Bannan.

It was the prelude to an outpouring of relief from home supporters and a light show on all four sides of the ground in an illuminating moment.

Pressed for a response, Town had plenty of possession, but struggled to carve out decent opportunities, with a half-chance falling to Elias Kachunga, but he wildly blazed off target.

The clock started to tick down against Huddersfield, but out of nothing, a lifeline was at hand 17 minutes from time.

Wednesday were momentarily unhinged down their left and substitute Collin Quaner, shortly after coming on, was afforded acres of space and his cross was bundled in by Wells, with Lees appearing to get the final touch.

Town took the initiative and it was they who finished the stronger and who went desperately close to taking the lead when Mooy’s fine ball picked out Quaner, who was starting to pose significant problems, with his centre finding Wells, whose rasping shot on the turn was turned away excellently by Westwood.

Extra time ensued and chances were at a premium, with Brown testing Westwood with a strike from distance before Rhodes’ first meaningful moment seeing his angled shot in the turn deflected just over.

Rhodes then stung the palms of Ward.

Then came the drama of the shoot-out, Ward saving from Hutchinson in the first round. Jack Payne missed for Huddersfield when it came to the fifth round of penalties to give the home fans hope, but Forestieri was then denied by Ward to send the Town fans into raptures.

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood; Hunt, Lees, Loovens, Pudil (Nuhiu, 107); Wallace (Reach 5), Lee, Hutchinson, Bannan; Forestieri, Fletcher (Rhodes 61). Substitutes unused: Wildsmith, Jones, Winnall, Sasso, Nuhiu.

Huddersfield Town: Ward; Smith, Hefele, Schindler, Lowe; Hogg, Mooy; Kachunga, Brown (Payne 97), Van La Parra (Holmes-Dennis 115), Wells. Substitutes unused: Coleman, Whitehead, Hudson, Cranie, Quaner.

Referee: A Marriner (West Midlands).

Attendance: 32,625.