Adam Armstrong scored the objective that fired Southampton again into the Premier League in Could – however he feared changing into a meme for an incident shortly earlier than the ultimate whistle.
After 101 minutes of motion within the play-off ultimate in opposition to Leeds, referee John Brooks blew his whistle, and Armstrong eliminated his shirt, twirling it above his head as he charged off to rejoice with the Southampton followers.
There was one downside, although: Brooks had really blown for a foul to Leeds, not for full time. Armstrong sheepishly regarded round, put his shirt again on and moved again into place.
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“I went too early, didn’t I?” the striker laughs as he talks to FourFourTwo. “I’d regarded on the scoreboard, we had been previous the period of time the ref mentioned he was going to play, then he blew his whistle. I used to be praying they wouldn’t rating from that free kick. I’d have been a meme for years…”
The incident went viral anyway, however Armstrong didn’t care by then. Leeds didn’t rating from that free kick – inside seconds, the 27-year-old may certainly rejoice promotion, and the objective that made the headlines.
“I’ve by no means had a sense like that in soccer,” he mentioned of victory, having slotted house the one objective of the sport after simply 24 minutes. “Will Smallbone slipped me via – I wasn’t positive if I used to be offside or not, as a result of there was VAR within the ultimate. I simply thought I’d hit it as arduous as I may throughout the objective, and hope it went in.”
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(Picture credit score: Puma)
With 85,000 within the stands, and an entire season at stake, his calmness made the distinction. “They’re strain moments – earlier than the sport, the environment gave me goosebumps,” Armstrong explains.
“However all the pieces goes out of the window in the course of the 90 minutes, you think about what you’ve received to do. To attain the winner at Wembley, it’s what children dream of. It’s arduous to place into phrases the emotions we went via that day. Possibly nothing will high that.”
Lallana, Harwood-Bellis and Armstrong (Picture credit score: Puma)
Armstrong was chatting with FFT at a St Mary’s occasion to mannequin the membership’s new package – Southampton have linked up with PUMA on a four-year deal, with bespoke kits for all groups on the membership, from the lads’s and ladies’s first groups via to the academy.
“The package is gorgeous, very good, good colors, good texture,” mentioned Armstrong, who’s additionally a PUMA ambassador and wears their boots.
“The primary goal this season is to remain up. This can be a Premier League membership in my view, and we’ve received to point out that on the pitch. If we stick collectively, and we hold sticking to what we all know, I’m positive we’ll be high-quality.”
For extra particulars on PUMA’s newest choices, go to uk.puma.com/uk/en/sports activities/soccer
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