Premier League
Leeds United 1 (Okafor 79’)
Tottenham Hotspur 0
Leeds: Trafford (GK), Bogle (Rodon 92'), Gudmundsson (Bard 46’), Ampadu (C), Muharemović, Longstaff (Gruev 92'), Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha (Okafor 77’), Tanaka (Wilson 77’), Justin, Elvedi. Subs not used: Zetterer (GK), James, Aaronson, Bijol.
Spurs: Kinský (GK), Robertson, van Hacke, Tel (Solanke 43’), Gray, Tonalid, Fernandes (Bentancur 65’), Kudus (Williams-Barnett 83’), Marmoush (Kulusevski 65’), Porro (Gallagher 65’), van de Ven (C). Subs not used: Gunter (GK), Senesi, Maddison, Davies.
Venue: Elland Road | Attendance: 36,921 | Referee: John Brooks | Booked: Longstaff, Okafor (Leeds) van de Ven, Porro (Spurs).
Leeds United's storming second half display was enough for a deserved three points against Tottenham Hotspur in the final action before the international break.
A goal from substitute Noah Okafor, with his third touch of the game, separated the sides and gave Daniel Farke's side their first win since 14 September.
Ahead of kick-off in our dedicated Remembrance fixture, Elland Road fell silent as we took a poignant moment to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending our country in armed conflict.
Play got underway with the Whites immediately on the front foot and feeling aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty when the ball initially appeared to strike the out-stretched arm of Mateus Fernandes, though referee John Brooks nor VAR Tony Harrington intervened.
Then, midfielders Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu tried their luck from range, seeing powerful efforts sail beyond the upright from the edge of the area.
Just after the 20-minute mark, England international goalkeeper James Trafford got down well to gather an Omar Marmoush strike that had deflected off the retreating Tarik Muharemović and spun towards the bottom corner. The stopper was also equal to a testing Mohammed Kudus drive.
After another lengthy VAR check, this time clearing Jayden Bogle after a challenge on Mathys Tel, the full-back was immediately involved, crossing towards Lukas Nmecha who headed straight at Antonín Kinský.
Towards the end of a scrappy opening period, a dangerous low Kudus cross flashed across the face of goal which evaded everyone in the middle, before Brooks brought a halt to proceedings.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Farke’s side emerged from the break with one change to the personnel as Gabriel Gudmundsson was replaced by Melvin Bard. The French defender was racing down the left flank from the off, crossing into the path of Sean Longstaff but a Tottenham defender managed to clear.
After Micky van de Ven had somehow turned a cross over his own crossbar, Dominic Calvert-Lewin rose highest to meet the delivery but saw his header cleared off the line, with Nico Elvedi unable to turn home the rebound.
Longstaff then picked out the run of Calvert-Lewin who darted into the area, chopping beyond two defenders and teeing up Tanaka but the Japanese international was unable to keep his snapshot down.
With the Whites hunting for an opener, Nmecha burst into the box, twisted and turned one way and then the other before being denied by a Spurs block. In a rare venture forward down the other end, Conor Gallagher drilled narrowly wide.
In the 68th minute, Elland Road stood to its feet to pay its respects to supporter Colin Westby. The season ticket holder tragically passed away after suffering a medical emergency prior to the Manchester United fixture.
Longstaff, on his 200th Premier League appearance, would have fired the Whites ahead if not for a sublime Kinský save. Bringing down a cross from the right brilliantly, the midfielder forced a superb intervention from the fingertips of the keeper.
Further reinforcements arrived from the dugout in the form of Harry Wilson and Noah Okafor, replacing Tanaka and Nmecha respectively. And within moments, that substitution would prove an inspired one.
The Swiss attacker hared onto a loose ball inside the opposition area, took a touch to compose himself and dispatched powerfully into the corner, sparking great scenes in West Yorkshire.
Leeds looked to counter from deep to add a second, Justin's ball sending Calvert-Lewin away on his own. The striker opted to keep the ball rather than shoot, found Wilson and his cross was just too high for Okafor.
As the board went up to signal four minutes of time added on, Spurs were denied a leveller by Trafford. A free-kick into the area was headed for the corner by Jan Paul van Hecke and Trafford threw himself to his left to palm the ball round the post.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
