LONDON - Watford won promotion to the English premier league when they beat Leeds United 3-0 in the promotion play-off final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium overnight.
American defender Jay DeMerit put Watford in front midway through the first half when he met an inswinging corner at the far post with a firm header.
Watford doubled their advantage 12 minutes into the second half when a James Chambers shot was deflected off Leeds' World Cup-bound US midfielder Eddie Lewis, hit the base of the near post and went in off diving goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.
Darius Henderson put the finishing touch to an emphatic victory with a penalty seven minutes from time after Shaun Derry brought down striker Marlon King.
Watford, who finished the season in third place in the second division, join champions Reading and Sheffield United as the three promoted teams. Leeds had finished fifth.
The victory to Watford, who had one season in the Premier League in 1999/2000, is worth close to £40 million ($123 million), made up largely of expected television revenue in the top flight, according to British media reports.
- REUTERS
Soccer: Watford win promotion to Premier League
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