Sky Guess Championship Play-Off Last
Leeds United 0
Southampton 1 (Armstrong 24’)
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Firpo (Joseph 83’), Ampadu (C), Piroe, Kamara (Roberts 74’), Summerville (Anthony 74’), Rodon, Grey, Rutter, Gnonto (James 66’), Gruev. Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Cooper, Shackleton, Byram, Gelhardt.
Southampton: McCarthy (GK), Walker-Peters, Downes, Stephens (C), Aribo, Armstrong, Smallbone, Harwood-Bellis, Fraser (Adams 70’), Bednarek, Brooks (Edozie 35’ (Manning 83’)). Subs not used: Lumley (GK), Manning, Stewart, Bree, Rothwell, Sulemana, Charles.
Referee: John Brooks
Booked: Summerville, Ampadu (Leeds) Bednarek, Fraser, Harwood-Bellis, Adams, Downes, Aribo (Southampton)
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 85,862
Leeds United’s season resulted in heartbreak at Wembley, as Southampton ran out 1-0 winners within the Sky Guess Championship Play-Off Last.
Backed by unbelievable assist with the Leeds finish a sea of white, Daniel Farke’s aspect finally got here up quick within the capital, with Adam Armstrong’s first half purpose proving sufficient to separate the 2 sides.
The Whites had the primary sight of purpose when Joe Rodon produced a effective piece of ability contained in the Southampton half to seek out area for Georginio Rutter.
On the flip, the French ahead was bundled to the bottom with Archie Grey selecting up the scraps, racing to the sting of the world earlier than drilling an effort simply broad of Alex McCarthy’s far submit.
Georginio was then concerned as United got here ahead as soon as extra, enjoying an incisive one-two with Willy Gnonto earlier than the Italian let fly, forcing McCarthy right into a save right down to his left.
For all Leeds’ early strain, the Saints have been starting to supply a menace on the break, with Armstrong latching onto a cross down the left.
The ahead crossed low on the lookout for Will Smallbone which Rodon was nicely positioned to intercept, earlier than captain Ethan Ampadu was available to dam Armstrong’s observe up effort.
Illan Meslier’s first name into motion got here simply earlier than the 15-minute mark, with the Leeds goalkeeper making a effective diving save to parry Smallbone’s well-struck free kick away from hazard.
Armstrong put Saints into the lead halfway inside the primary half, racing onto Smallbone’s cross in behind the Leeds line earlier than drilling low throughout Meslier and into the far nook.
After a cagey spell that produced few openings for both aspect following the opener, Meslier bought down beautifully nicely to get a powerful hand on Armstrong’s subsequent strike, with nice defensive positioning from Rodon permitting the defender to hack clear earlier than a black shirt might pounce.
Rodon would once more make an important interception to disclaim Armstrong moments earlier than the break, blocking the striker’s left-footed effort from the sting of the world, with referee John Brooks then bringing the opening 45 minutes to a detailed.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-1 Southampton
With each side unchanged after the restart, the Whites began brightly, with a marauding run from Rodon seeing him cost into the Saints’ penalty space, linking up with Gnonto earlier than determined defending noticed Southampton clear.
Summerville picked the ensuing unfastened ball up on the sting of the field and looking out to select the highest nook, the Dutch winger curled agonisingly broad of McCarthy’s far submit.
United’s strain continued when Georginio was bundled to the ground, in a fantastic crossing place on the left. Summerville as a substitute opted to attempt to catch McCarthy out at his close to submit, with Jack Stephens’ stooping header averting the hazard.
Simply after the hour mark, a primary change from Farke noticed Dan James launched rather than Gnonto, with the winger instantly concerned within the motion, floating a harmful cross on the lookout for Joel Piroe which Kyle Walker-Peters headed clear, with Southampton then launching a fast counter.
Samuel Edozie could be the participant to latch onto the ball down the left, darting into the world earlier than scooping over the crossbar as he seemed to double his aspect’s lead.
James got here inside inches of a shocking equaliser with 5 minutes left on the clock, with the Wales worldwide linking up with substitute Mateo Joseph earlier than seeing his fierce driving cannon off the upright and away from hazard.
Deep into stoppage time, McCarthy produced a effective finger-tip save, parrying nicely to disclaim James’ low strike from the sting of the world as Leeds threw all the pieces on the Saints backline.
Regardless of United’s greatest efforts, Southampton’s defence stood agency earlier than Brooks’ full-time whistle introduced the sport to a detailed.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 0-1 Southampton