Haaland consistently positioned himself between offside and onside.
It looked casual, but in reality, every time a Leeds United midfielder or forward received the ball, he would retreat just enough to stay onside.
Mbappe tried to cut inside from the left, but his connection with Haaland was completely cut off.
Newcastle had too many defenders.
With five defenders and four midfielders all dropping deep, nine players stood around and outside the box, forming two solid defensive lines.
As Grealish advanced with the ball, Haaland pulled back from the offside line, ready to break forward at any moment.
But Grealish's dribble was intercepted by Newcastle's defensive midfielders, Hayden and Ki Sung-yueng. After winning the ball, Ki Sung-yueng carried it forward, attempting to start a counterattack himself.
The nearly 50,000 fans at St. James' Park gasped.
However, just as he entered Rodri's zone, the Spanish midfielder closed in quickly.
Ki Sung-yueng reacted fast, sending a forward pass.
In a hurried move, he aimed for striker Rong Dong, but Ruben Dias read it first, intercepting with a poke. Robertson recovered the loose ball on the left.
After taking control, Robertson pushed up along the flank.
Both Mbappe and Grealish immediately reacted.
Mbappe sprinted down the left, trying to stretch Newcastle's backline.
Right-back Manquillo followed him tightly. After all, this was one of the top scorers in both the Premier League and Champions League, and the most dangerous attacker in Europe since the World Cup. No one dared to underestimate him.
Grealish advanced, pulling Lascelles out of position and drifting between the center-backs and midfielders. When Robertson dribbled toward Hayden, he passed the ball to Grealish.
Then Robertson ran forward, cutting in behind Russell.
With the ball at his feet, Grealish had options. He could pass wide to Mbappe or release Robertson's overlapping run. But there was another choice—Haaland.
The clever Norwegian dropped back, dragging Schär with him as if to support Robertson and Grealish.
This made Robertson's run appear like a delayed surge into the box, exploiting a defensive gap and drawing Hayden, Lascelles, and Schär's attention.
At that moment, Haaland quietly raised his right hand.
Grealish understood immediately. He feinted toward Lascelles, as if combining with Mbappe and Robertson, then suddenly struck the ball diagonally with the outside of his foot.
The pass curved from the left side of the box to the top of the area.
Haaland burst forward, using his strength to shove aside center-back Dummett. He trapped the ball with his right foot, spun, and used his body to shield the defender.
By the time Schär rushed over, Haaland unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike.
The ball rocketed into the net before goalkeeper Dubravka could react.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
Haaland!
It's Haaland again!
In the 87th minute, Leeds United pulled off a brilliant team move. Haaland used his strength to hold off Dummett and finished decisively!
3-2!
That's the work of a true center forward!
Majin Buu Haaland!"
Gasps filled the stadium.
Gao Shen and the Leeds United staff exploded in celebration.
On the pitch, Haaland sprinted to the sideline, sat cross-legged, and performed his meditative celebration, palms facing upward.
It was a celebration he had planned long ago.
His teammates surrounded him. Even goalkeeper Alisson roared from the far end, shouting and pumping his fists.
3-2!
Leeds United had taken the lead again!
"Leeds United have shown incredible spirit tonight. They led twice, were pegged back twice, but now Haaland has scored to restore their lead."
"They've had 70% possession and far more shots than Newcastle, but couldn't find the net until now."
"Newcastle, on the other hand, have scored twice from just seven shots, extremely efficient."
"This was a decisive game. Leeds United needed a win to clinch the title early, and everyone knew the pressure. That pressure showed in their performance tonight."
"But at the crucial moment, Haaland stepped up. His calm, powerful finish gave Leeds United the goal they desperately needed."
"His positioning was superb. He kept finding space, waiting for the right moment, and when it came, he seized it without hesitation."
"This young Leeds striker has left a remarkable impression. That's four straight games with a goal!"
"Remember his name… Erling Haaland!"
...
In southwest Leeds, when the commentator's call rang through the loudspeakers, the entire crowd erupted.
"Haaland! Haaland!"
Voices merged into one deafening roar.
3-2!
This goal was priceless.
The air above Elland Road trembled with the cheers of Leeds United supporters.
...
After Haaland's winner, the match was all but settled.
Despite Newcastle's late attempts to attack, they couldn't break through.
Leeds United defeated Newcastle United 3-2 away from home, with goals from Vardy, Mbappe, and Haaland, successfully defending their Premier League title with one round to spare.
When the final whistle blew, Leeds United's players rushed onto the pitch in a frenzy of celebration.
Pochettino and his staff embraced in joy.
"Congratulations to Leeds United! They become the fourth team in Premier League history to defend their title!"
"This is Leeds United's second Premier League trophy and the fifth top-flight title in the club's history."
"They have now firmly established themselves among the Premier League's elite."
"These young players—Mbappe, Haaland, Grealish—are phenomenal talents. And this is already their second Premier League championship."
"Even more exciting, Leeds United are practically assured a spot in this season's Champions League final. It will be held at their own Amazon Stadium. Playing at home, they have a real shot at winning it."
St. James' Park had become a stage for Leeds United's celebrations.
The White Rose fans, packed into a distant corner, erupted with the loudest cheers of the night.
No one in the stadium could drown out the sound of their joy.
At another venue, Manchester City were battling Leicester City at the Etihad.
City had been struggling recently, and this match was no different. Thanks to Kompany's spectacular long-range strike, they managed a narrow win.
They had been hoping for a miracle.
But Haaland's goal at St. James' Park ended all hope.
The title race was over.
...
In the stands, after celebrating with Lucas, Borrell, and the others, Gao Shen finally exhaled in relief.
This title meant everything to Leeds United.
It signified their true establishment as a Premier League powerhouse.
It would greatly boost future commercial deals and sponsor negotiations.
One title might be dismissed as luck, but two in a row proved their strength.
And, of course, it meant money.
This year's Premier League champion would receive around £150 million in prize money. Combined with Champions League earnings, Leeds United were guaranteed at least £90 million more.
If they reached the final or even won it, that number could exceed £100 million.
In total, Leeds United stood to earn over £200 million from both competitions.
The Premier League's European prize pool reached €108 million, with €70 million allocated to the Champions League and €40 million to the Europa League.
It was the largest in Europe, ahead of Ligue 1 (€83 million), La Liga (€81.6 million), and Serie A (€70.5 million).
Germany, despite its strong economy, had the lowest European prize pool at €57.3 million, nearly half of England's.
The Premier League's commercial scale, domestic enthusiasm, and overseas markets made it a global giant.
No wonder foreign investors were so eager to get involved.
As Gao Shen thought about the future, he also reminded himself of potential risks, like preparing financially in case of global disruptions.
"Let's go to the dressing room and celebrate with the players," he said with a smile to Su Qing, Lucas, and the others.
No one could predict what lay ahead, but for now, Leeds United were the Premier League champions once again.
(To be continued.)