Kickoff chronicles

Leeds United vs Southampton

The stage was set on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Wembley for either Leeds or Southampton to climb their way back into England’s most elite tier of football. With Leicester City and Ipswich Town already gaining automatic promotion, both clubs would be keen to win and jump back up to the Premier League on the first time of asking. Leeds had finished 3rd in the Championship table and had beaten Norwich City 4-0 on aggregate to make it to Wembley. Southampton had finished 4th in the table and won 3-1 over the two legs against West Brom.

1st Half 

The first 10 minutes of the match was end to end and dramatic with both clubs playing fast, attacking football. Will Smallbone came close to scoring a free kick in the 13th minute but his effort was parried away by French keeper Illan Meslier. Smallbone was certainly up for the tie and he registered an assist to his name when he found Adam Armstrong in space with the outside of his boot. The assistant’s flag stayed down as Armstrong found himself on-on-one with Meslier. The Englishman composed himself and buried the ball into the far left corner in the 24th minute. Southampton almost doubled their advantage before the interval if not for the outstretched palm of Meslier. It came from a Smallbone free kick which Armstrong controlled. He then volleyed it on the turn, forcing a solid save from the Frenchman. The first half finished 0-1 with the final still in the balance. 

2nd Half 

Daniel Farke’s half time speech must have worked because there was some fire in the belly of the Leeds players as they came out for the second period. Centre back Joe Rondon maybe should have scored in the 49th minute when his toe poke from 6 yards out was blocked by a brilliant sliding challenge from Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis. The Saints had a huge chance to go 2 ahead in the 67th minute when Leeds defender Ethan Ampadu was lazy to step up, playing 2nd half substitute Samuel Edozie onside deep in the Whites half. Joe Aribo played it to him as he turned to goal. Edozie dribbled in and cut it onto his right boot, watching the ball just curl around and away from the top corner. Leeds then turned to goal for the final minutes and came so close in the 84th when ex Manchester United star, Daniel James, saw his volley rattle the underside of the bar and bounce back into play. James came close again when his shot from outside the area had to be palmed away by Saints keeper Alex McCarthy. Southampton defended strongly and held out for the final whistle, winning the playoff final 1-0 in dramatic fashion.

They will now join Leicester and Ipswich in the 2024/25 Premier League line up and come straight back up after facing relegation in the 22/23 season. It is heartbreak for Leeds as they came so close to automatic promotion and then lost the final by a goal to nil. It is now 6 losses from 6 in playoff finals for the Whites as Daniel Farke’s men will have to suffer Championship football for the second term in a row.

Written by Ollie Wade