Report: Leeds United 1-2 West Ham United

Report: Leeds United 1-2 West Ham United

Defeat at Elland Road.

Premier League

Leeds United 1 (Raphinha 19’)

West Ham United 2 (Firpo 67’ og, Antonio 90’)


Leeds XI: Meslier (GK), Firpo, Cooper (c), Raphinha (Roberts 69’), Dallas, Rodrigo, James (Harrison 45’), Phillips, Cresswell, Klich, Shackleton (Summerville 90’). Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), Gelhardt, Hjelde, Drameh, Greenwood, McCarron. 

West Ham XI: Fabianski (GK), Cresswell, Zouma, Coufal, Fornals (Vlasic 78’), Antonio (Yarmolenko 90’), Bowen (Dawson 90’), Ogbonna, Benrahma, Soucek, Rice (c). Subs not used: Areola (GK), Lanzini, Noble, Diop, Johnson, Kral. 


Leeds United’s wait for a win this season in the Premier League continues, after West Ham United scored a late winner at Elland Road, coming from behind to take all three points. 

The first effort of the match came from Said Benrahma, which flew just wide of Illan Meslier’s post. The ‘keeper was called into action a minute or two later when Michail Antonio’s thunderous strike was superbly tipped wide.

In a busy opening ten minutes for the Whites’ number one, Benrahma went close again, only to be denied by the fingertips of Meslier, again. 

Equally as impressive at the other end, Lukasz Fabianski was called into action for the first time when he pushed Stuart Dallas’ curling strike over the bar and again shortly after, saving and holding well from Raphinha’s shot. 

On the 19th minute, Fabianski was beaten as Leeds netted the opening goal. Good work down the wing from Rodrigo allowed the forward to play it inside to Mateusz Klich, who in turn set up Raphinha to pick his spot and he did just that, striking low into the back of the net. 

The same combination came close to putting the Whites two ahead, but this time Fabianski had the post to thank after Raphinha’s effort had beaten everyone else and come cannoning back out to safety. 

Just before the interval, Pabo Fornals raced through one-on-one having been slipped in behind the Leeds defence, but again Meslier stood firm to produce another excellent stop. Jarrod Bowen curled an effort wide seconds after, just before the whistle went to end an entertaining first 45 minutes at Elland Road. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-0 West Ham United

Marcelo Bielsa went to his bench at the interval. He brought on the returning Jack Harrison in place of Dan James, in a straight swap down the wing. 

When Meslier was beaten, VAR correctly ruled out Tomas Soucek’s close-range finish because of a foul in the build-up. 

The ‘keeper was receiving treatment whilst the referee went over to the monitor and he awarded a foul to Leeds instead of a goal to the visitors. The striker was shown a yellow card for the incident. 

Soucek tested Meslier again just after the hour mark. Aaron Cresswell’s corner was met by midfielder, powering a header on target, but again the ‘keeper was equal to it and pushed it wide of the post. 

Next it was Fabianski’s turn to impress again in what had been a busy afternoon for both goalies. The link up of Rodrigo and Raphinha created the chance, this time for Klich, whose effort was tipped wide. From the resulting corner Rodrigo had a shot of his own on goal, saved by the ‘keeper. 

The equaliser for West Ham came about in fortuitous circumstances. Bowen picked up the ball up on the wing and cut inside, he hit a cross-shot which was heading off target, only to go into the back of the net via a deflection off Junior Firpo. 

The effort from both sides could not be questioned when looking for a winner, as they continued to push players forward in search of the three points and when Declan Rice surged into the Leeds half at pace, he played through Antonio and the striker finished well to put the Hammers ahead in the 90th minute. 

No further chances of not were created despite the five minutes of stoppage time being added, and the Hammers claimed all three points upon the sound of the final whistle. 

FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-2 West Ham United


Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 36,417

Referee: Kevin Friend

Booked: Raphinha, Meslier, Roberts (Leeds) Fornals, Antonio (West Ham)

X