Premier League
Leeds United 2 (Aaronson 3’, Rodon 15’)
West Ham United 1 (Fernandes 90’)
Leeds: Perri (GK), Bogle, Gudmundsson (Justin 44’), Ampadu (C), Rodon, Longstaff, Calvert-Lewin (Nmecha 87’), Aaronson (James 87’), Bijol, Okafor (Harrison 46’), Tanaka (Gruev 72’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Struijk, Piroe, Stach.
West Ham: Areola (GK), Kilman, Summerville (Magassa 79’), Paqueta, Malick Diouf, Bowen (C), Todibo, Soucek (Fernandes 65’), Wan-Bissaka (Walker-Peters 79’), Scarles (Wilson 25’), Irving (Potts 65’). Subs not used: Hermansen (GK), Julio, Rodríguez, Marshall.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,788
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Booked: Gruev, Perri, Justin (Leeds) Summerville, Paqueta, Todibo (West Ham)
Leeds United kicked off the weekend with a thoroughly deserved victory over West Ham United, thanks to goals from Brenden Aaronson and Joe Rodon.
The Whites made an electric start in West Yorkshire and raced into a two-goal lead, securing a third Premier League win of the season despite a late rally from the visitors.
Ahead of our Remembrance fixture, Elland Road fell silent to impeccably observe a moment of silence as The Last Post was played, commemorating the sacrifices of servicemen and women and their families, past and present.
The clash with the Hammers was also dedicated to the Premier League’s No Room For Racism campaign, falling within Black History Month and continuing to show discrimination has no place in society.
Having made four changes to the side that faced Burnley last time out, Daniel Farke’s team got off to the dream start under the lights as Aaronson fired home an opener in the early moments!
The American international had initially found the overlapping Jayden Bogle who in turn spotted the run of Noah Okafor with a deep hooked delivery to the back post.
The forward’s header was excellently clawed off the line by Alphonse Areola but the 25-year-old was well placed to bundle home the rebound from close range!
The Whites had goalkeeper Lucas Perri to thank for preserving the lead shortly afterwards, however, as the Brazilian made a sublime intervention to parry Jarrod Bowen’s acrobatic effort before reacting quickly to punch clear with Lucas Paqeuta lurking in the middle.
Those saves would prove crucial on the 15-minute mark when Welsh defender Rodon rose highest in the penalty area to emphatically head Sean Longstaff’s dangerous in-swinging corner beyond Areola and into the back of the net!
Two almost became three following an electric break down the left. Dominic Calvert-Lewin laid the ball off for the onrushing Ao Tanaka to strike though, from the edge of the area, the Japanese midfielder lashed over the upright.
West Ham thought they had halved the deficit when Paqueta smashed a left-footed shot off the underside of the bar but, following a lengthy VAR check, the Brazilian was adjudged to have been in an offside position and the goal was ruled out.
An enforced change before the break saw Gabriel Gudmundsson make way for James Justin in a like-for-like swap at full-back.
Having already scored, Rodon then almost turned provider as he released Okafor down the left flank. Twisting and turning his way into the middle, the Swiss attacker flashed a curling shot agonisingly beyond the far post.
Chances at either end fell for Bogle and Tomás Soucek before referee Stuart Attwell brought a scintillating opening period to a close.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-0 West Ham United
The Whites emerged from the interval making one change as Jack Harrison replaced Okafor on the left flank.
Searching to extend their lead, the tirelessly working Aaronson raced into space down the right and crossed looking for the run of Calvert-Lewin at the near post who attempted to audaciously flick home but was unable to find the target.
The crossbar was then left shaking as Aaronson collected a loose ball and powered towards the edge of the Hammers’ area, unleashing a fizzing drive that cannoned off the upright and away.
On the hour-mark, substitute Harrison called Areola into action with a long-distance effort as Farke’s side continued to threaten under the Elland Road lights.
Shortly after Jaka Bijol was well placed to hack clear when Callum Wilson tried to latch onto a hopeful West Ham pass, a third alteration from the dugout saw Ilia Gruev introduced into the action with just under 20 minutes of normal time remaining.
With the London outfit beginning to enjoy more of possession, Perri had to be alert to scamper across his line to collect an inventive back heel from Wilson who met a cross from the right flank at the near post.
Having ran themselves into the ground, Calvert-Lewin and Aaronson deservedly took their rounds of applause as the duo made way for Lukas Nmecha and Daniel James in the closing stages.
West Ham did pull a goal back courtesy of Mateus Fernandes however the substitute’s header proved nothing more than a consolation as United held on to a thoroughly warranted three points.
Despite the rain hammering down, the jubilant Elland Road faithful’s spirits weren’t to be dampened as supporters cheered on to I Predict a Riot and a third Premier League victory of the season!
FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-1 West Ham United
