Pre-Season Friendly
Leeds United 2 (Piroe 29’, Longstaff 45’)
Wrexham AFC 3 (Moore 1’, Cadamarteri 41’, Smith 85’)
Leeds first half XI: Cairns (GK), Ampadu (C), Rodon, James, Longstaff, Piroe, Justin, Gnonto, Cresswell, Lienou, Mills.
Leeds second half XI: Perri (GK), Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, James Justin, Tanaka, Stach, Wilson, Nmecha, Gnonto (Chadwick 75’), Dan James (Pickles 75’).
Venue: Raymond James Stadium
Referee: Joe Surgan
Leeds United had their first taste of a return to action as they kicked off their pre-season preparations by taking on Wrexham AFC in the United States of America. The teams battled it out at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, in intense heat.
As expected with friendly matches, there were plenty of changes throughout the match and Daniel Farke was able to mix first-team experience with many of the younger players from our Thorp Arch academy system.
Alex Cairns began in goal, with James Justin, Joe Rodon, Alfie Cresswell and Jayden Lienou operating in the defensive areas to protect him. Our captain Ethan Ampadu started in midfield alongside Sean Longstaff and youngster Callum Mills.
The attacking areas had a mix of pace and creativity, with Wilfried Gnonto, Daniel James and Joel Piroe looking to break through the Sky Bet Championship sides backline.
It would be Wrexham who took the lead inside the opening minute of the match, when their Welsh international forward Kieffer Moore receiving the ball inside the box and smashed home into the far corner, left-footed.
Looking to hit back quickly, Longstaff spotted the run of Dan James over the top and he latched onto the pass, flicking it round Arthur Okonkwo before being brought down. Stepping up to take the resulting penalty was Piroe, but the ‘keeper redeemed himself by tipping his effort onto the post and clear.
The opening 20 minutes had seen both teams looking to attack and woodwork would soon be struck again. Lining a free-kick up from 25-yards, Nathan Broadhead’s curling effort cannoned back off the bar.
Just after the water break and feeling refreshed, the Whites hit back and levelled the scores under the grey clouds of Tampa! Again Longstaff was the creator, drilling a low ball into the box for Piroe to backheel into the back of the net.
As we approached the break, good work from Mills saw him beat a couple of the Wrexham defence and find Piroe, who in turn found Gnonto but his chipped effort was well saved by Okonkwo.
Straight up the other end, Wrexham retook the lead. Breaking through the United defence on the halfway line, Bailey Cadamarteri ran clear and finished low into the bottom corner.
In this thrilling encounter, the Whites quickly levelled once more before the half-time whistle sounded! Longstaff had been everywhere in the opening 45 minutes and seizing an opportunity inside the box, he curled home right-footed into the top corner to get a deserved goal for his display.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-2 Wrexham
Daniel Farke made changes to his side for the second half. The new XI for the remainder was Lucas Perri, Jayden Bogle, Rodon, Ampadu, Justin, Ao Tanaka, Anton Stach, Gnonto, James, Harry Wilson and Lukas Nmecha.
Within seconds of the restart, Gnonto carried on his battle with Okonkwo and the ‘keeper stood firm once more, tipping his effort around the post.
The second half had lacked the chances that the first had seen. With the sun set and darkness over the top of the stadium in Florida, both sets of travelling supporters were enjoying their evening in what had been a well contested game, but no real goalmouth action followed.
Ollie Pickles and Rhys Chadwick were the last two substitutes to enter with 15 minutes remaining, as they looked to progress into the forward areas in search of a winner.
However, despite the Whites’ comfortable spell in control, it was Wrexham who again went ahead as substitute Sam Smith chopped back and forth before finding the bottom corner, five minutes from time.
As Daniel Farke’s side pushed hard for an equalising goal deep into stoppage time, half time addition, and new recruit, Wilson curled an effort from inside the box agonisingly over the bar, moments before Joe Surgan blew the whistle to call curtain on the pre-season opener.
Next up for Leeds on the US tour schedule is Sunderland in New Jersey, who lost 4-2 to Liverpool in Nashville, before a trip to Chicago to face the Merseyside outfit as they continue their preparations for the 2026/27 Premier League season.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-3 Wrexham
