Leeds United have returned to the Premier League after a 16-year absence by clinching the EFL Championship title with two games to play.
As the Whites concluded their 2019/20 season and prepare for their return to the top flight, VAVEL takes a look at five matches that helped get them there.
August 21st, 2019
Leeds 1, Brentford 0: Nketiah scores late on in home debut
After opening the season with two wins and a draw, the Whites hosted a Brentford team led by the brilliant trio of Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins and in the 24th minute, it was Mbuemo's 25-yard thunderbolt that beat Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, but cannoned back off of the post.
Patrick Bamford forced Brentford keeper David Raya into a good save from a low volley and Patrick Bamford nodded just wide of the empty net. Adam Forshaw started the second half with a drive that Raya kept out and Mateusz Klich struck one that hit a Brentford player on the arm, but no penalty was given.
Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah was introduced in the 77th minute and just four minutes later, he would become an Elland Road hero, scoring the match-winner as he nodded home fellow substitute Helder Costa's cross that sent Leeds to the top of the table.
October 1st, 2019
Leeds 1, West Bromwich Albion 0: Alioski goal ends Baggies unbeaten run, sends Whites to the summit
Sitting in third place, Leeds welcome leaders West Bromwich Albion to Elland Road knowing a win would see them go top as they were two points behind Slaven Bilic's men.
The Whites thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Stuart Dallas' flick struck the hand of Kyle Bartley, but the appeals were waved away. Seven minutes before halftime, the hosts took the lead.
Jack Harrison passed out of a crowd to Kezjgan Alioski, who rifled a low shot that deflected off of Bartley and past Baggies goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to put Leeds on top. Bamford and Costa were denied by Johnstone as the Whites chased a second.
The West Brom keeper kept out Harrison's serving effort with ten minutes to go, but the Baggies couldn't find an equalizer and Leeds were now top, ending West Brom's one-match unbeaten run to start the season.
December 28, 2019
Birmingham City 4-5 Leeds: Harding own goal in stoppage time decides nine-goal classic
Leeds made the trip to St. Andrews on the back of a loss to Fulham and a draw with Cardiff City and they were looking for a quick start against the Blues. They took the lead after 15 minutes when Harrison threaded a through pass to Costa, who turned around Max Colin and beat Birmingham goalkeeper Connor Trueman with a low, left-footed shot and they doubled their lead six minutes later when Harrison's strike took a heavy deflection off of Harlee Dean.
Birmingham halved the lead in the 27th minute when 16-year old Jade Bellingham fired home from Colin's cross. Lukas Jutkiewicz fired over from close range while Luke Ayling went close from a corner. The Blues were level on 61 minutes when a Colin corner found Kerim Mrbati at the far post. Casilla could only parry the chance as far as to Lukas Jutkiewicz, who nodded in to make it 2-2.
Luke Ayling gave Leeds the lead eight minutes after Jutkiewicz equalized with a brilliant strike into the top left corner. The visitors nearly had a fourth if not for the alert Trueman who saved Dean from an embarassing own goal. He saved from Alioski's free kick and with seven minutes left, Jeremie Bela headed in Kristian Pedersen's free kick to make it 3-3. A minute later, Dallas put the Whites in front with a sizzler into the top right corner.
With Leeds in front and the match headed to extra time, the Whites seemed to have a firm grasp on the game until Jutkiewicz converted Bela's cross in the first minute of stoppage time to make the score 4-4. The drama wasn't over, though and Gaetano Berardi's tackle kept the Leeds attack alive and Ayling's cross ball was turned in by Wes Harding to bring an end to a memorable affair.
June 26, 2020
Leeds 3, Fulham 0: Whites dominate to go top once again
Unlike the previous three games on this list, this match was not particularly close. Leeds had kept clean sheets in five of their last six games and inside of two minutes, the Championship's leading scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic elbowed Ben White in the face, but somehow stayed on the pitch.
The Whites took the lead in the 10th minute when Bamford struck following Costa's cutback. They were lucky to escape a penalty when Tyler Roberts appeared to handle in the area and Ilian Meslier kept out Mitrovic's powerful volley. The hosts soon doubled their advantage when Alioski swept home Harrison's cross from the right side of the area.
Hernandez and Harrison produced a bit of magic in the 77th minute when the former hit a brilliant no-look pass to the latter, who cut in from the right and left Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak with no chance. The victory moved Leeds three points clear at the top of the table as they were on their way to the top flight.
July 12, 2020
Swansea City 0, Leeds 1: Hernandez scores late on to put Whites on the brink of the Premier League
A trip to Wales was preceded by thumping wins over Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City by a combined 8-1 scoreline. Before kickoff, a moment of silence was held for club legend Jack Charlton, who had passed away
Rhian Brewster led the early Swansea attack, first firing at Mesler from 20 yards out and then testing the Whites keeper with his head, but Mesler was up to the challenge on both occasions.
On the half hour mark, Freddie Woodman was called into action to stop Dallas' deflected effort. Leeds caught a break when Swans defender Ben Cabongo saw the ball deflect directly to Bamford, who shot too close to the Swansea keeper.
After the break, Connor Gallagher made a searing run fof the hosts, but Meslier pushed the ball to his near post. Leeds then went on the offensive as Hernandez played a diagonal ball to Harrison, who swept it across the face of goal to Bamford only to see Woodman make a fine save.
After Harrison fired over, the game seemed to be headed for a draw until Ayling pulled the ball back for Hernandez down the right and he found space near the penalty area and fired an unstoppable strike past Woodman a minute from time to put Leeds four points from the top flight with three games to go.
Promotion was eventually achieved five days later when West Bromwich Albion lost to Huddersfield Town to officially end their 16-year wait for top-flight football, but it was these five games that shaped the season that Leeds fans everywhere will remember.