It’s expensive to get out, but it’s equally expensive to get back in. The average price that a team that is relegated from the Premier League has to ‘pay’ is around 100 million euros, but the gain from coming back is around 135 million. So, a Championship playoff final at Wembley is hugely important for any finalist, and the game is considered to be the most expensive one in the world of football. This season, the winner is Southampton, as the Saint defeated Leeds for the third time this season, (this time 1-0) and went back to the elite in the first time of asking. Former Newcastle forward Adam Armstrong will be celebrated tonight in the south of England for his match-winner in the 24th minute.Southampton are Premier League.#SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/oHhtR5LMXy— Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 26, 2024 As it is already known, traditions and winning streaks are particularly strong to break in England, and the last team to score first at Wembley and lose the playoff final was Blackpool in 2010. No team managed to do it since, so when Southampton scored first, Leeds fans were extremely nervous, and rightfully so. Not only did they fail to turn the game around, but they failed to at least score one goal. In fact, their first shot on target in the second half was in the 94th minute! This win is not only huge for the club, but also for the coach Russell Martin. On a personal note, the former Norwich captain played over 300 games for the club before current Leeds coach Daniel Farke came in and replaced him. Years later, the revenge is sweet and expensive.Leeds United 0-1 Southampton Adam Armstrong gave the lead!pic.twitter.com/uCNjRGYqjo— Football⚽ (@_footb0ll) May 26, 2024 The teams didn’t show much until the first (and the only) goal. Will Smallbone made a superb pass into the path of Adam Armstrong, and the former Newcastle forward smashed the ball across Meslier’s goal into the far corner. Leeds’s keeper had a huge save in injury time, again from Armstrong and basically gave hope to his teammates, who had 45 minutes to at least earn a draw. But, their only response in the whole second half was a shot at the bar in the 84th minute (James) and a 95th-minute shot from the saved player, which Saints’ keeper McCarthy managed to save. Too little for a shot at the Premier League. Leeds will stay in the Championship for at least one more season, and they better be first or second in the next season. Playoff games are just not good for Leeds as they lost six matches since 1986 from various opponents, some of them already in the semi-finals. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8123988##
