Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Huddersfield: Joao brace seals home win

Substitute Lucas Joao scored twice as Sheffield Wednesday netted three late goals to snatch a 3-1 win over Huddersfield.

The visitors, with new coach David Wagner in charge for the first time, led through Sean Scannell's opener early in the second half, but Joao's equaliser in the 78th minute was the start of a fine finish to the match from the Owls.

Kieran Lee put them ahead in the 83rd minute and Joao got his second deep into stoppage-time to complete the comeback.

Wednesday's Fernando Forestieri had the first chance of the match, heading just wide at the near post from Ross Wallace's cross.

Huddersfield's Kyle Dempsey fired in a shot shortly after which was saved by Keiren Westwood.

Atdhe Nuhiu then headed on to Wallace, whose shot from just inside the area was comfortably dealt with by goalkeeper Joe Murphy.

They were the only goalscoring opportunities of an underwhelming first 45 minutes, with neither side managing to stamp their authority on the game.

Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal made a change at the interval, taking off Jeremy Helan and replacing him with Joao, who had made his international debut for Portugal in midweek.

Joao was soon involved in the action, getting on the end of a Wallace cross at the far post, although the angle was too tight for him to be able to steer the ball on target.

There was a scare for the visitors when Mark Hudson under-hit a back-pass and Murphy had to be alert to clear the danger as Forestieri looked to pounce. Murphy was hurt in the process and was only able to continue after receiving lengthy treatment.

But in the 53rd minute Scannell gave the visitors the lead, stooping to meet Dempsey's cross with a far post header.

Wednesday went close to an immediate reply when Wallace's shot was cleared off the line by Dean Whitehead.

But, buoyed by their goal, Huddersfield were looking threatening on the attack. Mustapha Carayol had a shot deflected wide and Emyr Huws tried his luck from range, with his effort saved by Westwood.

Carvalhal made further substitutions in a bid to provide his side with fresh impetus, first sending on Lewis McGugan in place of Jose Semedo and then introducing on-loan striker Gary Hooper as a replacement for Nuhiu.

Huws had a chance to increase Huddersfield's lead when he found himself in a good position inside the area, but his shot was well saved by Westwood.

At the other end Daniel Pudil's cross picked out Hooper at the near post, but his glancing header saw the ball go beyond the far post.

With time ticking away, though, Wednesday found an equaliser.

Joao followed up to fire a loose ball into the net after Forestieri's goalbound shot was blocked.

Moments after Huddersfield's Joe Lolley headed off the line, Lee then completed the turnaround, slotting home after Murphy had saved Forestieri's shot.

Huddersfield were not beaten yet and Lolley's searching cross just evaded Carayol.

But Joao ended their hopes by completing the scoring in stoppage-time with a fine finish after receiving the ball from Forestieri.

Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal:

"I think we deserved to win the game. We showed that we have a strong team. The strong teams can do what we did today.

"It was not good in the first half but we were better in the second half. We started very well in the second half and after Huddersfield scored, it was a fantastic reaction.

Huddersfield head coach David Wagner:

"In the last 20 minutes, we have to be honest and say that Sheffield Wednesday were very strong. In that time they beat us.

"The first 70 minutes was a step in the right direction. We needed a better performance in the last 20.

"We like to create a new style and for this you need unbelievably good fitness. That is what we are working towards."