Southampton Football Club has achieved an immediate promotion back to the Premier League after defeating Leeds United 1-0 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium. The high-stakes match, considered the richest one-off game in world soccer, guarantees Southampton an impressive boost of £140 million ($180 million) in future earnings from broadcast revenue and prize money.

The south-coast club clinched their top-flight return thanks to Adam Armstrong's decisive 24th-minute goal. Armstrong capitalized on a well-executed through ball, piercing through the Leeds defense and slotting a low finish into the far corner. Southampton maintained a disciplined defensive approach, relying on counterattacks throughout the game.

For Leeds, owned by a group that includes professional golfers Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, it was yet another playoff disappointment. This marked their sixth failed attempt to secure promotion through the post-season series. The agony was compounded by the fact that Leeds finished third in the regular season, just three points ahead of fourth-placed Southampton. Their hopes for automatic promotion were dashed after winning only one of their last six matches.

Leeds struggled to find answers against Southampton's resilient five-man defense, failing to trouble their opponents for most of the match. Their closest chance came in the 84th minute when substitute Dan James struck a powerful shot that hit the crossbar. It was a fitting end to a lackluster season for Leeds, one of England's historically renowned clubs.

In contrast, Southampton celebrated their third victory over Leeds this season, having previously won in both their home and away fixtures. The win at Wembley crowns an impressive campaign for Southampton, who will be joining Leicester and Ipswich in the Premier League as the three promoted teams from the Championship.

Ownership of Southampton Football Club lies with Sport Republic, an investment firm in the sports and entertainment industry led by Dragan Solak, the founder of United Group, a telecommunications giant in Eastern Europe. Southampton also boasts British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a devoted supporter. While Solak was present at Wembley for the momentous occasion, it is yet to be confirmed if Prime Minister Sunak was in attendance.

The promotion marks a triumphant return for Southampton, who previously featured in the Premier League from 2012 to 2023. During their previous stint in the top flight, the club gained recognition for nurturing talented academy players, including renowned names like Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott.

Southampton will now look to rebuild and make a lasting impact in the Premier League as they prepare for the challenges that lie ahead in the upcoming 2023-24 season.