Leeds United's Under-21s have been promoted to Premier League 2 Division 1 following a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest in Monday night's PL2 Division 2 playoff final at Elland Road.
Having missed out on automatic promotion on the final day of the regular season when they lost at West Bromwich Albion, Leeds raced into a 2-0 lead by half-time as they looked to secure an immediate return to Division 1 after relegation last season.
Watch: Leeds v Nott'm Forest match highlights
Forest goalkeeper Aaron Bott made a quartet of fine early saves, but was eventually beaten on 20 minutes when Georginio Rutter slotted home following a neat move involving Mateo Joseph Fernandez and Sonny Perkins.
👏 Congratulations to our #LUFCU21 side on winning promotion to #PL2 Division 1! pic.twitter.com/wIjVt1GDRa
— Leeds United (@LUFC) May 15, 2023
A stunning volley from Jeremiah Mullen doubled Leeds' advantage seven minutes before the break and Kris Moore made it 3-0 for Paco Gallardo's side nine minutes after the restart with a close-range header.
Forest, who had battled to make the playoffs after securing five wins in their final six matches, tested Dani van den Heuvel with a curling Ateef Konate shot, but the goalkeeper was alert to the effort as Leeds saw out the match comfortably.
Leeds: Van den Heuvel (Christy 89'), Moore, Mullen, Monteiro, Gyabi, Allen (Debayo 84'), Gray, McGurk (Spencer 78'), S. Perkins, Joseph Fernandez (Ferguson 84'), Rutter (Thomas 78').
Forest: Bott, Hanks (Mighten 45), Donnelly, Hammond (Larsson 62), Abbott, McDonnell, Taylor, Hammond, Osong (J. Perkins 45), Konate, Powell. Subs not used: Willows, Thompson.
