Leeds v Southampton LIVE: Championship play-off final result and reaction as Saints dramatically promoted
Leeds 0-1 Southampton: Adam Armstrong’s first-half goal enough to send the Saints back into the Premier League
Southampton won promotion back to the Premier League after beating Leeds 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, earning an immediate return to the top tier following relegation last May.
Adam Armstrong was the Southampton matchwinner as his first-half goal was enough to see off a Leeds side that struggled to muster a meaningful response, with substitute Daniel James coming closest after his shot thundered against the bar late in the second half.
Southampton will join Leicester and Ipswich in the Premier League next season, the latter being promoted after a 22-year absence from the top flight, while the Foxes also returned at the first attempt after relegation last year.
Meanwhile, Leeds, whose ownership group contains major-winning golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, suffered more play-off heartache as they failed to go up via the route for a sixth time. After winning only one of their last six regular-season games to miss out on automatic promotion, questions will also be raised about the future of manager Daniel Farke.
Relive the clash with our blog below:
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
57 mins: A little smirk from Gnonto as he draws the free-kick off Downes by cleverly moving his body in front of the Southampton midfielder. This is a great chance with a free-kick about 25 yards out towards the left...
But it’s woeful from Summerville. High, wide and not so handsome - poor effort.
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
55 mins: Good start to the second half from Leeds but they’re still searching for a breakthrough. Summerville tries a backheel flick through to Piroe but it’s cut out.
Things getting frantic now as Leeds pinging in passes and running at defender but Southampton are scrambling clear. Some meaty challenges flying in as well.
52 mins: Summerville curls the ball in but Harwood-Bellis heads behind for a corner. That’s played short and Gruev dinked ball in is nodded out for a throw-in by Aribo
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
51 mins: Leeds forward again and Summerville’s long-range thunderbolt is blocked. The Leeds fans are starting to make some serious noise again.
Now their team have a free-kick right on the left edge of the box after Harwood-Bellis clatters into Rutter. Yellow card for the on-loan Man City defender and a dangerous position for the Whites.
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
48 mins: Is that the closest Leeds have come? Aribo gets caught out and suddenly Gnonto is in the box, he chops inside, the ball falls to Piroe and Harwood-Bellis does brilliantly to block his shot that looked destined for the net.
The ball comes out to Summerville on the edge of the box and he tries to curl the ball into the far corner but not enough curl and it goes wide. Better from Leeds.
Leeds 0-1 Southampton
47 mins: Southampton have flown out of the traps in this second half. They pressure Leeds and Stephens sees a shot from a promising position desperately blocked.
Leeds try to counter but the Saints retreat.
KICK-OFF! Leeds 0-1 Southampton
Back underway at Wembley. 45 minutes for Leeds to turn this around, otherwise Southampton are heading back to the Premier League,
HALF-TIME! Leeds 0-1 Southampton
HALF-TIME! Leeds 0-1 Southampton
And that’s the half-time whistle. A really compelling first half at Wembley and Southampton are good value for their lead.
Adam Armstrong’s neat finish is the difference and only a top Meslier save prevented the Saints striker from making it 2-0. Work to do for Leeds in the second 45 minutes.
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