Adam Armstrong’s single strike saw off Leeds United at Wembley Stadium, sending Southampton back into the Premier League on their first attempt after they were relegated last season.
Southampton secured an immediate return to the Premier League after Adam Armstrong was the hero in a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the Championship play-off final.
Armstrong who is also the Saints’ top scorer provided the decisive first-half strike at Wembley Stadium earlier this evening, with his 24th league goal of the season sending Russell Martin’s side straight back into England’s top division.
The pair of teams had scored a combined 197 goals this campaign, but just the one finish was enough to settle what was only the third second-tier play-off final between two sides relegated the previous year.
Southampton will join Leicester City and Ipswich Town in winning top-flight promotion, while Leeds (who had sadly hit the crossbar through Daniel James late in the game) must prepare for at least another campaign in the Championship.
Daniel Farke’s Leeds players settled the quicker of the two sides, who were separated by just three points during the regular season, but with little success in front of goal.
Archie Gray (who is the youngest Leeds player to appear at Wembley) drilled just wide early on in the encounter, while Italian Wilfried Gnonto shot straight at Alex McCarthy.
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However, Southampton struck the all-important opener after 24 minutes, somewhat against the run of play.
Armstrong beat the offside trap after Ethan Ampadu’s mindless charge out from the back, latching onto Will Smallbone’s throughball before neatly slotting past Illan Meslier.
The game was paused when a shoulder injury forced a distraught David Brooks off soon after but the Saints went close to doubling their lead just before the break as Meslier parried away Armstrong’s drive.
Crysencio Summerville curled just wide from the edge of the box within four minutes of the restart as Leeds sought an equaliser.
Substitute Dan James then rattled the crossbar with a right-footed effort six minutes from time and was again denied by McCarthy, as Southampton held on to seal their return back to the big league pp.
As they now say “One Armstrong finish, one giant step for Saints”
Southampton were appearing in their first-ever play-off final, and they had lost on eight of their 10 previous visits to Wembley, including each of the last five.
However, the Saints stopped the bad luck with a little help from a promotion expert their boss Martin (He has achieved five of them as a player, and this was his third to the top flight overall).
Armstrong’s cool finish proved the difference; his 24 goals this term is the most by a Southampton player in a single season since Rickie Lambert struck 27 in 2011-12.
It was also the Saints’ 100th – and most important – goal of the season; their first time reaching triple figures since the 2009-10 season under Alan Pardew.
More pain in play-off for Leeds
Leeds have now appeared in the English Football League play-offs on six occasions, failing to secure promotion in each of those instances.
The omens did not look good when they fell behind considering not since Cardiff City in 2010 has a team failed to get promoted after opening the scoring in a Championship play-off final.
It is just over 16 years since their third play-off final disappointment against Doncaster Rovers in League One (May 25, 2008), with Leeds now playing the most such matches without ever gaining promotion.
