Report: Leeds United 2-1 Norwich City

Report: Leeds United 2-1 Norwich City

Stoppage time winner wins the three points.

Premier League

Leeds United 2 (Rodrigo 14’, Gelhardt 90+4’)

Norwich City 1 (McLean 90+1’)


Leeds: Meslier (GK), Ayling (C), Forshaw, Bamford (Harrison 45’), Raphinha, Llorente, Dallas, Rodrigo (Koch 60’), James, Struijk, Klich (Gelhardt 90+2’). Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), Bate, Cresswell, Summerville, Greenwood, Shackleton. 

Norwich: Krul (GK), Aarons (Gilmour 88’), Gibson (C), Rupp (Normann 45’), Kabak, Rashica, Lees-Melou, Williams, Pukki, McLean, Sargent (Rowe 62’). Subs not used: Gunn (GK), Dowell, Placheta, Sorensen, Giannoulis, Tomkinson. 


Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 36,321


Referee: Stuart Attwell

Booked: Ayling, Harrison, James (Leeds) Aarons (Norwich)


A sensational ending at Elland Road saw two stoppage time goals. After Norwich had equalised through Kenny McLean it seemed like the visitors had stolen a point, only for Joe Gelhardt to come off the bench and create chaotic scenes with a 94th minute winner for Jesse Marsch’s side. 

The opening 10 minutes of the match saw a fast-paced start, with both teams coming forward when the ball was in play. However, some early stoppages meant the game was quite stop-start despite the attempted tempo from the players.

Dan James at one end and Milot Raschica at the other were the main contributors to the attacks. However, neither goalkeeper faced an early shot to deal with but there was a penalty claim from either side, both turned away. 

Inside 15 minutes, the first real meaningful effort on goal did find the back of the net. A clever ball forward found the onrushing Rodrigo who finished superbly on his right foot, striking into the bottom corner, via a slight deflection.

The goal had sparked brilliant scenes inside Elland Road and that spurred the Whites on to create more. Stuart Dallas broke down the wing and created an excellent chance for Raphinha in the box, but the Brazilian miss-hit his effort. 

Josh Sargent registered the first real attempt on goal for the visitors but his strike was deflected wide. Straight up the other end from the corner, Partick Bamford was looking to create for Raphinha. The forward picked out the Brazilian at the back post with a deep cross, only to see the shot cannon off the crossbar. 

Leeds would then go close again, moments later. From an inswinging corner Pascal Struijk leapt highest in the middle and forced an excellent save from Tim Krul, before the rebound fell back to the defender, who shot over the bar this time. 

Krul would save again from another Struijk header as half-time approached, before Rashica blazed over the bar from a free-kick in a dangerous area. One final opportunity before the interval came to Bamford from Raphinha’s throughball, but he placed it wide of the target. 

It had been an excellent first 45 minutes from Marsch’s side at Elland Road and they went into the break with a one-goal lead, but it could and should have been more. 

HALF TIME: Leeds United 1-0 Norwich City

There was a change on each side to begin the second half. Bamford had put in a real shift inside the first period of play and was replaced by Jack Harrison. For the visitors, Lukas Rupp left the pitch in place of Mathias Normann. 

Marsch’s team had the ball in the back of the Norwich net early in the second period of the match, but an offside flag cancelled the celebrations. Rodrigo had found Raphinha out wide and his shot was well saved by Krul. The rebound fell to James who struck home, but that’s when the flag went up to deny him. 

On the hour mark in the match, first half goalscorer Rodrigo was replaced. Robin Koch came on for the forward in the second change of the game for Leeds. The Canaries followed by making a swap of their own, Sargent came off for Jonathan Rowe. 

Seconds after the changes, Krul was called into action again. James pushed forward at pace after Klich had won the ball back in midfield and the winger saw his curling strike tipped wide of the post by the Norwich stopper. 

Down the other end, the substitution for Norwich brought about an effort of their own. Untroubled for much of the match up to this point, Illan Meslier was made to save well after Rowe had found space to shoot from the edge of the box. 

With 20 minutes remaining, Norwich came close to levelling the scores. Brandon Williams did well down the wing to create a chance for Teemu Pukki who had a strike blocked. From the resulting play, the ball eventually fell to Rowe, who fired an effort against the crossbar. 

In the 77th minute, Stuart Attwell had a major decision to make in the match. Norwich were given a penalty after Luke Ayling had been adjudged to have fouled Rashica in the box. However, after a VAR intervention, the official overturned his initial decision meaning no penalty was awarded. 

In another exceptionally close effort, it was then Leeds who nearly scored. Good work from Harrison saw the winger fouled 25-yards out from goal. Raphinha stepped up to take the free-kick and his curling strike went over after hitting the crossbar. 

Six minutes of added time was shown at the end of the game and in the first of those, the away side equalised. Pukki played the ball into the box and McLean was at the front post to turn home to make it one apiece.

Marsch immediately went to the bench and made his final change. Gelhardt came on for Klich, and what a change it would prove to be.

Both teams went in search of a winner in the match and it was Leeds who found one. Raphinha raced clear down the right wing and after getting around Krul, he pulled the ball back with the angle narrowing for Gelhardt to fire home.  

Elland Road descended into chaos with jubilant celebrations all over. However, there was still work to be done and fortunately Meslier was alert enough in the 97th minute to make a stunning point-blank save from Pukki.

The whistle blew shortly after and confirmed a huge three points for Leeds United against Norwich City at Elland Road. 

FULL TIME: Leeds United 2-1 Norwich City

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