Premier League 2

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 (Chouchane 3’, O’Mahony 45’)

Leeds United 4 (Thomas 16’, 41’, 53’, Spencer 90’)

Brighton: Cahill (GK), Nilsson (Slater 84’), McConville, Jackson, Samuels, Hinshelwood, Chouchane, Peupion (Baker-Boaitey 84’), Barrington (Duffus 70’), Moran, O’Mahony (Mullins 73’). Subs not used: Reid. 

Leeds: Christy (C) (GK), Ferguson, Debayo (Jenkins 68’), Monteiro, Mullen, Moore, Crew, Douglas, McFadden (Carole 45’), McGurk (Coleman 45’), Thomas (Spencer 87’). Subs not used: Ombang (GK).

Venue: AMEX Performance Centre

Referee: Aji Ajibola

Booked: Duffus (Brighton) Ferguson, Mullen, Monteiro, Thomas, Crew, Douglas (Leeds)

Sent-off: Jackson (Brighton)

Leeds United Under-21s began their Premier League 2 campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion in a Friday night encounter on the South Coast. 

A superb hat-trick from Luca Thomas and a stoppage time finish from Morten Spencer secured the points, in a thoroughly entertaining match. 

The Whites travelled to the AMEX Performance Centre to take on the Seagulls in this 2023/24 season opener, under the guidance of Michael Skubala. 

Playing in the newly announced third kit, Leeds would have an action packed first half to begin their Premier League 2 season. In just the third minute, the Seagulls took the lead through Samy Chouchane, who tucked home a cross from Mark O’Mahony. 

The Whites nearly hit back instantly though, but were denied by Killian Cahill in the home goal, when he spread himself well to deny Thomas at close range.

The striker wasn’t to be denied a leveller shortly after, however. Kris Moore played a deep back-post cross which found Connor Douglas, the ball then fell kindly for Thomas to smash home the equaliser with 16 minutes gone. 

Further chances were to follow at both ends. James Debayo created one for Douglas who forced a good save, then when the ‘keeper was beaten, so was the post with Connor Ferguson dragging a shot wide when well placed. 

Approaching the interval, Thomas had been a constant threat throughout and his alertness to the game earned him a second goal. He latched onto a loose pass, raced past the covering defender and smashed home left-footed to put Skubala’s side ahead.  

The lead didn’t last long though, as Brighton quickly hit back. It was another cross into the middle, this one from Cameron Peupion, and O’Mahony was the beneficiary as he tucked home at close range. 

In a lengthy amount of stoppage time, Thomas would cause chaos at the back again against the Seagulls. He worked a chance to race through on goal, only to be dragged down by Ben Jackson, meaning the defender was sent-off and the hosts down to 10. 

The resulting free-kick was curled well over the bar and the half-time whistle sounded shortly after, sending the teams in level but Leeds had a player advantage for the second 45 minutes.  

HALF TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Leeds United

Out for the second half, Skubala had made two changes. Keenan Carole and Cian Coleman were on, replacing Sean McGurk and Max McFadden. 

Getting on the front foot early on in the half, Leeds quickly went back into the lead and it was no shock who got the third goal!

Moore played a key role as the creator again, pacing down the right-wing to cross into the box, where Thomas was there to poke home an instinctive strikers finish at close range to complete his hat-trick. 

Back in the lead and with the player advantage, Harry Christy between the posts and wearing the armband for the Whites, offered plenty of organisational shouts and instructions to his side to keep them on the front foot. 

Both teams made a flurry of changes in the second half which meant the play was particularly stop-start and compared to a first half full of chances, there were very few in the second 45. 

That suited Leeds who showed fantastic game management. A youthful Under-21s side were being guided through the game with instruction from Skubala on the touchline and were showing the desire needed to hang onto their hard-earned lead. 

Brighton threw everyone forward in the final minutes and launched a long free-kick into the box, but Leeds would stand firm to deny them and race up the other end themselves!

Fresh from the bench a few minutes earlier, Spencer raced clear and showed superb composure to dribble round the defender tracking back, then slot home with the outside of his foot.

Spencer’s goal wrapped up a thoroughly impressive three points away from home on the opening day of the Premier League 2 season for Michael Skubala’s young side.  

FULL TIME: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-4 Leeds United