Premier League
Leeds United 3 (Justin 18’, Okafor 20’, Calvert-Lewin pen 90’)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
Leeds: Darlow (GK), Bogle, Gudmundsson (Rodon 90’), Ampadu (C), Struijk, Calvert-Lewin (Nmecha 90’), Aaronson (Gruev 78’), Bijol, Okafor (Gnonto 67’), Tanaka (Longstaff 90’), Justin. Subs not used: Perri (GK), Piroe, Bornauw, Buonanotte.
Wolves: Bentley (GK), H Bueno, S Bueno, André, J Gomes, Armstrong, Toti (C), Bellegarde (R Gomes 67’), Krejcí (Hee-Chan 75’), Tchatchoua (Lima 46’), A Gomes (Mané 38’). Subs not used: Brooks (GK), Møller Wolfe, Arokodare, Olagunju, Edozie.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,840
Referee: Farai Hallam
Booked: Aaronson, Justin (Leeds) H Bueno (Wolves)
Two quickfire first-half strikes from James Justin and Noah Okafor along with a late Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty fired Leeds United to all three points over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The victory over the Midlands outfit made it back-to-back victories in the Premier League following the triumph over Manchester United, rounding off a hugely important week in the bid to secure top-flight status.
In front of a packed-out Elland Road, the unchanged Whites looked to create the early inroads as Okafor charged in behind the visitors’ backline, finding Calvert-Lewin but the England international was crowded out before he could get a shot away.
Okafor, having memorably netted twice in the win at Old Trafford, again then tried to turn provider, crossing deep looking for the run of Brenden Aaronson which Hugo Bueno stooped to head behind.
From the resulting corner, the ball ricochetted the way of Justin though, with little time to react, the versatile defender was unable to guide the ball on target.
The Whites went even closer to breaking the deadlock moments later when Okafor did brilliantly to hook a cross back into the middle which somehow evaded the onrushing Jaka Bijol and a turquoise shirt cleared off the line.
The pressure finally told and in spectacular fashion. Ethan Ampadu initially had an effort superbly saved on the line by Dan Bentley yet, acrobatically, Justin fired home with an outrageous bicycle kick!
And just minutes later, Elland Road erupted once more. Aaronson raced away down the right flank and crossed early to the back post where the onrushing Okafor kept his composure to find the back of the net!
Looking to respond, the visitors won a corner after great defending from goalscorer Justin to dispossess Adam Armstrong. From the set piece, a series of blocks from white shirts averted the danger.
It was Bijol and Calvert-Lewin’s turns to then intervene inside the hosts’ penalty area, charging down two more Wolves opportunities following a scramble in the middle in the final meaningful action of the opening period.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Unchanged at the break, the Whites emerged from the interval with the capacity crowd continuing to impress as Leeds searched for a third.
The second half was slow in bursting into life with the hosts probing for an opening but facing a stubborn Wolverhampton defence.
On the hour mark, American international Aaronson reacted to collect a loose ball and embarked on a mazy run, twisting and turning his way into the penalty area though the visitors were able to shepherd the ball behind.
Moments later, from a corner, Ampadu hooked an effort goalward with Bentley stranded in no-mans-land but the inventive strike was just too high to nestle in the back of the net.
Down the other end, Karl Darlow produced a simply magnificent reaction save, tipping Ladislav Krejcí’s point blank range header over the bar.
The opposition threatened with over 20 minutes to go when substitute Rodrigo Gomes raced in behind but he snatched at the chance and dragged a low shot wide of the near post.
Heading into the closing stages, two changes arrived in the form of Willy Gnonto and Ilia Gruev, replacing goalscorer Okafor and the tirelessly working Aaronson respectively.
Wolves thought they had reduced the arrears when Armstrong lifted a chip over the onrushing Darlow until the assistant’s flag was raised for offside with VAR confirming the decision.
Farke’s side were awarded a penalty kick in stoppage time after Calvert-Lewin had been sent tumbling looking to latch onto a Gnonto pass.
The England forward got to his feet, composed himself and drilled a powerful penalty home, sending Bentley the wrong way and Elland Road into bedlam!
The full-time whistle sounded seconds later, rounding off a superb performance to cap what has been a very memorable week for Leeds United.
Attentions now turn to Wednesday for the midweek trip to AFC Bournemouth with the Whites looking to make it three wins in a row in the Premier League.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 3-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
