REPORT: OXFORD UNITED 4-3 LEEDS UNITED

REPORT: OXFORD UNITED 4-3 LEEDS UNITED

Oxford edge seven goal thriller.

Pre-season friendly 

Oxford United 4  (Henry 7, 43 Hall 26, Obika 61)

Leeds United 3  (Roberts 54, Baker 63, Clarke 71)

 

Oxford: Eastwood, Norman, Dickie (Raglan 81), Mousinho, Garbutt, Ruffels (Carroll 81), Brannagan (Nelson 74), Hall (Napa 46), Henry (Mackie 70), Carruthers (Baptiste 74), Obika (Lopes 83).  Subs not used: Shearer, Long.

Leeds: Huffer (Blackman 45), Shackleton, Diaz, Rey, Pearce, Klich, Vieira, Ideguchi (Roberts 45), Baker, Clarke, Dalby (Edmondson 45).  Subs not used: Stevens.

 

Venue: Kassam Stadium

Attendance: 4,727 (1,336 Leeds)

Referee: A. Coggins

Marcelo Bielsa & Karl RobinsonA spirited second half performance, couldn’t overturn a 3-0 half time deficit, with Leeds United suffering a narrow 4-3 defeat at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford went close inside three minutes when James Henry struck an effort from the edge of the box and he was only denied by a fine save from Will Huffer.

After an early warning, Oxford took the lead four minutes later, Rob Hall teed up Henry once more and this time he found the bottom corner with a curling effort.

Jamie Shackleton had Leeds’ first opportunity following some good build up play, but he could only strike his effort over the bar.

Shackleton then did really well to get to the Oxford byline, he teed up Sam Dalby in a great position, but he could only scuff his effort.

The home side doubled their lead in the 26th minute, Henry showed good footwork in the Leeds box and then returned Hall’s favour for the first goal, by setting him up to fire home from close range.

Oxford continued to threaten and Hall went close to adding a third, with a curling effort from the edge of the box, which was just too high.

At the other end Leeds went close when Lewis Baker teed up Ronaldo Vieira to strike from 20 yards, but he was unable to test Simon Eastwood in the Oxford goal.

Hall again continued to cause Leeds problems, this time bending an attempt just wide of Huffer’s post from inside the Whites penalty area.

The U’s went further ahead in the 43rd minute, Huffer could only parry Jon Obika’s shot from the left and Henry slotted home his second of the game.

Half Time: Oxford United 3-0 Leeds United

Tyler Roberts celebrates scoringOxford had the first chance of the second half, a misplaced pass from Vieira led to a counter attack by the home side and Henry fired just over from the edge of the box.

Leeds got back into the match through substitute Tyler Roberts in the 54th minute, a corner came out to him and he found the back of the net with a fine strike via the upright.

Five minutes later, Leeds stopper Jamal Blackman, making his debut after being introduced at half time was forced into action, tipping over an Obika effort from 20 yards.

Baker then tested Eastwood with a drive from range, but he was unable to get the better of the Oxford stopper.

Less than a minute after Baker’s effort, Oxford restored their three goal cushion, John Mousinho played the ball across goal and Obika tapped into the net from close range.

However Leeds hit straight back, Shackleton put in great low ball from the right and Baker slid in and found the net.

With Oxford shook, Leeds almost had a third, Pearce provided a cross from the left and substitute Ryan Edmondson scored with a cool finish, however the goal was ruled out for offside.

Roberts then almost netted his second goal of the night when he volleyed a Baker cross into the ground, but his effort bounced wide.

Leeds got right back into the match in the 71st minute, Jack Clarke cut inside from the left and found the back of the net with a deflected effort from the edge of the box.

The Whites continued to rally for an equaliser in the closing stages as Oxford rang the changes, but were unable to force a breakthrough as the U’s held on for victory.

Full Time: Oxford United 4-3 Leeds United

Lewis Baker scores

Leeds

 

 

X