Sky Bet Championship
Norwich City 1 (Sargent 15’ pen)
Leeds United 1 (Ramazani 60’)
Norwich: Gunn (GK), Duffy, Doyle, Sainz, Sargent, Crnac (Gordon 70’), Slimane (Schwartau 70’), McLean (C), Nunez (Forson 80’), Cordoba (Stacey 45’), Fisher. Subs not used: Long (GK), Hanley, Hills, Forsyth, Myles.
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Bogle, Firpo (Byram 82’), Struijk (C), Rodon, Aaronson, Ramazani (Piroe 70’), Joseph (Bamford 70’), Tanaka, Gnonto (Gelhardt 82’), Gruev (Rothwell 20’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Debayo, Chambers, Crew.
Venue: Carrow Road
Attendance: 26,261
Referee: Stephen Martin
Booked: Sargent, Doyle (Norwich) Struijk, Rothwell, Bogle, Gnonto (Leeds)
Leeds United made the long midweek trip to East Anglia, taking on Norwich City in the Sky Bet Championship and coming away with a valuable point from an entertaining encounter.
Both teams came into the game in good form, having won their previous two matches. The hosts had impressively beaten Derby County away from home last time out, whereas Leeds came into the game on the back of a comfortable win over Coventry City at Elland Road.
Returning to a familiar setting in Carrow Road, Daniel Farke made just the one change to his starting XI, as captain Ethan Ampadu missed out through injury which meant a first start for summer recruit Ao Tanaka.
Wearing the changed third shirt for the first time this season, the Whites emerged from the tunnel and were aiming to get off on the front foot, as both Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani looked lively on either wing.
However, it was the hosts who took the lead after 15 minutes had been played, from the penalty spot. Josh Sargent went down in the box under a Joe Rodon challenge and the American stepped up to take the penalty himself, powering low into the back of the net.
Looking to respond instantly, Gnonto was the most threatening again. He cut in from the right and after some clever play, shot left-footed, seeing his effort deflected onto the post and cleared.
A stop-start period after the goal forced Farke into a first change, in his midfield. Ilia Gruev picked up an early knock, meaning he had to be replaced by Joe Rothwell.
Two big chances came at either end as the half progressed. After coming on, Rothwell saw a free-kick come back off the wall and from the rebound, Gnonto forced Angus Gunn into a good save.
At the other end, Meslier showed excellent reflexes to tip a deflected cross over his crossbar, after Rodon had initially blocked the ball into the box from Borja Sainz.
Despite seeing plenty of the ball in attacking areas throughout the opening 45 minutes, plus seven additional for stoppages, the Whites hadn’t created the clear-cut opening they were in search of. The whistle then sounded for the interval with the Canaries a goal ahead.
HALF TIME: Norwich City 1-0 Leeds United
Back out for the second half in East Anglia, the home side made a change. Jack Stacey was brought on in what appeared to be another injury enforced swap, replacing Jose Cordoba.
Early chances came, with Leeds in search of the leveller. Another Rothwell set-play coming into the box saw Pascal Struijk have a header blocked, that then fell for Aaronson to have his blocked, before Ramazani struck over.
Forcing Gunn into action once more, Rothwell was the one with the chance this time, striking powerfully on target but the ‘keeper saved well. Norwich’s best chance early in the half was from a corner, where Callum Doyle sent his header over the bar.
On the hour mark, Farke’s side got a more than deserved equaliser! The Gnonto-Ramazani connection was the key, after the Italian played his teammate into the box, before he struck low and hard left-footed into the bottom corner.
Just a few moments later and Gnonto created another good chance, this time playing Aaronson into the box, but his left-footed strike flew over, before Jayden Bogle also struck over when well placed a few minutes later.
Inside the final period of the match, both teams went to their benches. Patrick Bamford, Joel Piroe, Sam Byram and Joe Gelhardt all came on for Leeds, whereas Kaide Gordon, Oscar Schwartau and Amankwah Forson entered for the home side.
Despite the best efforts of both sets of players, neither side could find another goal, and that meant it finished level and both teams would take away a valuable point.
FULL TIME: Norwich City 1-1 Leeds United
