Sky Bet Championship
Leeds United 3 (Roberts 80’, Gray 83’, Bamford 90’)
Leicester City 1 (Faes 15’)
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Firpo (Roberts 73’), Ampadu (C), Piroe (Bamford 64’), Kamara, Summerville (Anthony 90’), Rodon, Gray, Georginio, Gnonto (James 64’), Gruev. Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), Cresswell, Cooper, Shackleton, Joseph.
Leicester: Hermansen (GK), Justin, Faes, Winks, Mavididi (McAteer 77’), Choudhury, Fatal, Daka (Cannon 77’), Pereira (C), Dewsbury-Hall, Vestergaard. Subs not used: Solarczyk (GK), Coady, Doyle, Albrighton, Praet, Akgun, Nelson.
Referee: Craig Pawson
Booked: Ampadu, Kamara, Roberts, Meslier, Rodon (Leeds) Pereira, Vestergaard (Leicester)
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,954
Leeds United claimed a big three points with a victory against top of the league Leicester City on Friday evening, coming from behind at half-time to win the game late in the second half.
Wout Faes had put the visitors ahead, before three goals in the final 10 minutes of the clash from Daniel Farke’s side saw them make it nine wins in a row in the Sky Bet Championship.
The Whites had the first big chance of the game. Joe Rodon released Archie Gray on the wing who played it inside for Willy Gnonto, who flicked it on one more for Joel Piroe, but the striker powered his effort over the bar.
Illan Meslier was then tested for the first time following a quick Leicester break. Patson Daka picked up the ball outside the area and looked up before striking at goal, only to see the ‘keeper fingertip the ball over the bar.
From the resulting corner though, the Foxes did find the net. After the initial set-play was flicked on inside the box, Faes arrived at the back post and had the simple task of turning the ball home at close range.
Leeds looked to respond quickly and had chances. Both Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville burst into the box on more than one occasion and just as the moment to shoot came, they were crowded out.
Despite pushing throughout the majority of the half, Farke’s side couldn’t find a leveller and that meant the away side took a one-goal advantage into the break.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-1 Leicester City
There were no changes at the interval and both teams came back out for the second 45 minutes under the lights of Elland Road.
Back on the front foot and searching once again for the leveller, Leeds had the first chance in the second half. Summerville won the ball down the right-hand-side and cut it back to Georginio, only for the forward to curl his effort over the bar.
The away side then had a big chance of their own down the opposite end. Stephy Mavididi cut in from the left and onto his right foot, struck at goal, only for Meslier to tip it just wide of the post.
Enzo Maresca’s side came even closer moments later and were having a good spell. From a corner, Jannik Vestergaard rose highest and powered a header against the post, Daka turned home the rebound, but the offside flag went up.
With just over 25 minutes to go, Farke went to his bench. Dan James and Patrick Bamford were brought on in place of Piroe and Gnonto, with Connor Roberts then introduced for Junior Firpo a short time after.
On the counter attack, Leicester had another huge chance when Mavididi was through on goal again. Looking to compose himself and curl into the bottom corner, the attacker put it wide, and the chances missed would come back to haunt the table-toppers shortly after.
Entering the final 10 minutes, Elland Road would erupt for the first time. Leeds were throwing everyone and everything forward and the ball fell for Roberts in the box after Georginio's run, allowing the defender to smash home his first goal for the club.
With fans celebrating and the atmosphere electric inside the ground, once again the Whites came forward. Within two minutes of the leveller, Georginio showed some superb work and found Gray, who then put his side ahead to create wild celebrations!
Heading towards stoppage time, the result would then be secured in emphatic style, sparking more celebrations under the lights in West Yorkshire.
Leeds had a free-kick on the edge of the box which was taken and struck powerfully by James, who saw his effort take a deflection off Bamford, before finding the back of the net!
When the full time whistle was blown, it confirmed the three points for the Whites and extends the winning run to nine in a row in the Sky Bet Championship.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 3-1 Leicester City
