Premier League 2 Division 2

Leeds United 2 (Joseph 7’, Perkins 47’)

Norwich City 2 (Kamara 8’, 58’)

Leeds: Christy (GK),  Drameh, Carole (Moore 86’), Mullen, Hjelde, Forshaw (C) (Gyabi 45’), Perkins (Allen 75’), Greenwood, Joseph, Klich, Summerville. Subs not used: Brooke (GK), Jenkins.

Norwich: Azaiya (GK), Watt, Shipley, Tomkinson (C), Warner, Brooke, Kamara, Riley, Dickson-Peters (Thorn 82’), Omotoye (Coker 86’), Springett (Duffy 60’). Subs not used: Campbell, Stewart. 

Venue: Thorp Arch

Referee: Paul Marsden

Booked: Mullen, Greenwood, Hjelde, (Leeds) Warner (Norwich) 

Leeds United’s Under-21s returned to league action on home turf at Thorp Arch on Monday afternoon, taking on Norwich City in Premier League 2 Division 2 action.

A competitive and entertaining match throughout ended level, after Michael Skubala twice saw his side go ahead through goals from the inform pairing of Mateo Joseph and Sonny Perkins, but they were pegged back twice by Norwich’s Abu Kamara. 

Both teams came into the match having won their opening league fixtures meaning they were in a confident mood, looking to add more points to their early season totals. 

Leeds had put five past Derby on the opening day, whilst the Canaries travelled north having come from behind to beat Sunderland 3-2 in East Anglia a week previously. 

Skubala saw his team continue from where they had left off in the East Midlands, but opening the scoring inside just seven minutes. Mateusz Klich’s cross into the box wasn’t dealt with by the visitors, allowing Joseph to pounce and fire home left-footed for his fifth goal of the campaign. 

— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 15, 2022

The Canaries hit back immediately though and were level just a minute later. Again it was from a cross into the box as Tony Springett fired the ball in low and hard, finding Kamara who scrambled it over the line to equalise. 

Attacking chances were then exchanged at either end, both teams were looking to take the lead in the match. Crysencio Summerville saw an effort blocked at close range, whilst Joseph suffered the same as his teammate moments later!

Shortly before the interval and with the scores still level, each side had one last opportunity. Klich struck just wide from 25-yards, before down the opposite end, Harry Christy was forced to save well from Springett this time. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-1 Norwich City

Back out for the second half at Thorp Arch, Leeds were challenged to get on the front foot again from kick-off and they did exactly that by retaking the lead. 

Within two minutes of the half getting back underway, Summerville claimed an assist by sliding the ball through the Norwich defence and finding Perkins, who composed himself and slotted the ball underneath the ‘keeper to get his second goal in as many matches. 

🤩 Sonny with the second! pic.twitter.com/RdHmYlk0je

— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 15, 2022

The forward nearly made it three just seconds later, but this time the away defence were alert to Perkins, clearing his effort off the line. Attempting to change from assister to scorer this time, Summerville was the next to go close, curling just over the bar. 

Just prior to the hour mark, Norwich equalised for a second time in the match. Another ball across the box found Kamara who was once again well placed to finish, striking left-footed into the far corner. 

Joseph was continuing to look dangerous and after going close once more, he then did find the net. However, the striker was flagged offside after slotting home from Cody Drameh’s cross and the score remained level. 

Into the final few seconds of the match and the story of the game continued, with Skubala’s side coming ever-so-close but not quite getting the ball over the line. 

Drameh did well to get down the wing and whip a ball into the middle which found Summerville and the winger beat David Azaiya in the Norwich goal with his header, but saw the ball cannon back off the post. From the last attack of the game, another header, this time from Jeremiah Mullen, was agonisingly blocked on the line and cleared.

In a hard-fought and well contested match, both teams had to settle for a point in this Premier League 2 Division 2 encounter, keeping up their unbeaten starts to the season. 

FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-2 Norwich City