Southampton have returned to the Premier League after playoff final victory over Leeds United at Wembley.
The Saints suffered relegation to the English second tier in the 2022-23 season, and are back to the top-flight after their first attempt.
They sailed to the final of the competition after defeating West Brom 3-1 while Leeds United saw off Norwich 4-0.
Leeds United were tipped as favorites to ace the fixture and secure promotion but Southampton weren’t a tough nut to crack.
Six minutes before the half-hour, Adams Armstrong scored the only goal of the game as the Saints defied the odds to seal a deserved victory and book their promotion to the English top-flight.
While it ended gloriously for the Saints, it was a disappointing going for Leeds United at Wembley. They struggled to create meaningful chances and were less clinical in the attack compared to their opponents.
Despite trailing Southampton by a lone goal, it was a deadlock for the Peacocks as they struggled aimlessly to make their mark in the game.
Meanwhile, Southampton continued on their dominant display despite taking the lead and were looking set to cruise to victory.
Leeds United began to claw their charges into the game towards the final minutes. They closed in on a chance to make a difference but were denied by a prolific save by the Southampton goalkeeper. A lengthy 9 minutes was added to the game but Southampton held on to grab victory after the final whistle.
The Saints will now join Leicester City and Ipswich Town in the Premier League next season.
