St. Mary’s Stadium buzzed with excitement on Friday evening as Southampton secured a place in the Championship playoff final with a convincing 3-1 victory over West Brom.
The Saints will now face Leeds United in the decisive battle for promotion.
Ghanaian winger Kamaldeen Sulemana watched from the bench as an unused substitute during this crucial match.
In contrast, English-born Ghanaian attacker Brandon Thomas-Asante entered the fray in the 64th minute, replacing Jed Wallace for West Brom.
After a stalemate in the first leg of the semi-final, Southampton took control early on, dominating possession and firing more shots on goal.
Their efforts paid off four minutes into the second half when Will Smallbone capitalized on a Gray Diangana error to score with a powerful finish.
Southampton’s offensive pressure continued, with Adam Armstrong playing a key role.
In the 78th minute, Armstrong’s shot slipped through Darnell Furlong’s legs and past Alex Palmer, doubling the Saints’ lead.
Armstrong then sealed the victory by converting a penalty in the 86th minute after Tom Fellows fouled Ryan Manning in the box. Cedric Kipre’s late header in stoppage time served only as a consolation for West Brom.
Kamaldeen Sulemana, who made 25 appearances this season with three assists, could play a vital role in the final against Leeds United, potentially boosting Southampton’s attack.