Premier League
Leeds United 1 (Nmecha 90+1’)
Fulham 0
Leeds: Darlow (GK), Bogle (Nmecha 81’), Gudmundsson, Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson (Bornauw 90+3’), Okafor (Gnonto 70’), Justin, Gruev (Tanaka 81’). Subs not used: Perri (GK), Longstaff, Piroe, Byram, Buonanotte.
Fulham: Leno (GK), Andersen, Jiménez (Kusi-Asare 88’), Wilson (Diop 88’), Cuenca, Berge, Lukic (Cairney 66’), Castagne, Sessegnon (Kevin 65’), Smith Rowe (King 77’), Robinson. Subs not used: Lecomte (GK), Reed, Traoré, Amissah.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,300
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh
Booked: Ampadu (Leeds) Castagne, Lukic, Wilson, Cuenca, Kusi-Asare (Fulham)
After late heartbreak in the reverse fixture, it was Leeds who got their revenge against Fulham on Saturday, as Daniel Farke’s Whites earned a brilliant stoppage-time victory thanks to a fantastic finish from substitute Lukas Nmecha!
Elland Road was a scene of jubilation as the striker hooked in a clever late winner, extending United’s unbeaten home run to five matches.
Before the fixture got underway, the stadium stood for a moment of remembrance in honour of late Leeds legend Terry Yorath, who sadly passed away recently. Both the Whites and the Cottagers played the game in black armbands to pay their respects to the Welsh midfielder.
Prior to kick-off, Farke made three changes to the side that fell to a cruel 4-3 defeat at Newcastle United last time out in the Premier League, with Gabriel Gudmundsson, Noah Okafor and Karl Darlow coming into the side.
On a misty afternoon, it was Leeds on the front foot from the off. After making a crucial tackle at the back, Ethan Ampadu raced up the field and played the ball to Okafor on the left, but the winger’s shot found only the waiting hands of Bernd Leno.
Fulham’s first chance of the game came down the other end, as Raúl Jiménez put a Harry Wilson corner wide of the post under pressure from a white shirt.
From a Jayden Bogle long ball, Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed down and the ball fell to Okafor in the box, but the Swiss international’s effort flew over.
With the fans roaring the team on, United stepped up their pressure. An errant pass from Leno nearly saw Ilia Gruev clear on goal. Moments later, Calvert-Lewin once more exhibited stellar hold-up play, finding Bogle, who played in Brenden Aaronson over the top yet the lively American blazed over.
It was the away side with the next opportunity, as Wilson played in Sasa Lukic but Ilia Gruev did enough to put off the Serbian, whose tame header was easily gathered by Darlow in the Leeds goal. From there, action was largely even and the half came to a close all square.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-0 Fulham
After a tense start to the second period, the home side ramped up the intensity with Aaronson setting off on a marauding run down the right before crossing to Calvert-Lewin, as the striker flicked narrowly wide.
As the vocal home crowd continued to impress, James Justin and Okafor combined to release the onrushing Gudmundsson but the Swedish international found only the side netting.
On the 67th minute, all of Elland Road stood for an heartfelt moment of applause to honour late supporter Colin Wood, who devastatingly passed away ahead of the Manchester United match.
In search of the opener late on, newly introduced Wilfried Gnonto delivered the ball to Calvert-Lewin on the edge of the box, only for the England international’s effort to be well saved by Leno.
After Justin won United a corner, he stepped up to deliver, finding the head of Pascal Struijk, but the defender’s attempt crept over. From another set piece whipped in by the defender, it was substitute Nmecha glancing onto the roof of the net.
The striker wasn’t to be denied twice, however, and from an Ampadu cross just as the clock ticked into added time, the German hooked his boot around to rifle the ball into the back of the Fulham net, cueing wild scenes around the ground!
Looking to cement the lead, Aaronson seized on a loose ball in the midfield and played in the goalscorer. His powerful drive was saved well by the Cottagers’ keeper but it wasn’t to matter as referee Christopher Kavanagh brought the action to a close.
A well-deserved late winner sees Leeds grab their third home win in five, ahead of the tip to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next time out.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Fulham
