Premier League

Leeds United 1 (Struijk 90’)

Brighton & Hove Albion 1 (Welbeck 21’)

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Firpo (Struijk 83’), Koch (Shackleton 68’), Cooper (C), Raphinha, Llorente, Rodrigo, Harrison, Phillips, Gelhardt, Klich (Greenwood 83’). Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), Bate, Hjelde, Cresswell, Kenneh, Gray.

Brighton: Sanchez (GK), Cucurella, Dunk (C), Bissouma, Mac Allister, Trossard (Lamptey 86’), Gross, Welbeck, March (Webster 62’), Caicedo (Lallana 74’), Veltman. Subs not used: Steele (GK), Maupay, Alzate, Duffy, Offiah, Ferguson. 

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 36,638 (1,986 away)

Referee: Mike Dean

Booked: Firpo, Rodrigo, Cooper (Leeds) Caicedo, Lamptey (Brighton) 

Leeds United rescued a stoppage time point at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, with Pascal Struijk powering a header over the line in the final minutes to level the scores at Elland Road! 

Danny Welbeck had put the visitors ahead inside the first half, but a second half bombardment of the Brighton goal eventually saw a deserved equaliser for Jesse Marsch’s side, sending the home crowd wild and moving the Whites out of the bottom three in the table with one game to play.

Leeds were close to the perfect start, after pushing forward within seconds of kick-off and winning an early set-piece. The ball fell for Joe Gelhardt in the box and frustratingly for the forward, his strike cannoned off Liam Cooper - with the captain unable to move - and was then cleared. 

The visitors also had a good chance of their own inside the opening 10 minutes. Mateusz Klich blocked well from a Moises Caicedo shot in the box, before Illan Meslier had to make a good save from the same player on the rebound. 

An even better opportunity came moments later for the Seagulls. Solly March beat the offside trip and with acres of space in the box, his scuffed an effort wide of the post when one-on-one with Meslier.  

A third clear effort on goal in the match did bring about the opening goal, through Welbeck. The striker latched onto a ball forward and beat his marker in the box, before clipping in a delicate chip beyond Meslier into far corner.  

Looking for a response, a clever corner from Raphinha found Klich on the edge of the box and the midfielder hit a first time effort on target, only to see Robert Sanchez make his first good save of the match. 

The remaining moments of the half were stop-start with many little fouls and stoppages all over the pitch, which meant the score stayed the same as the whistle was blown for the interval.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

The second half began with Leeds creating early chances. Efforts from Raphinha, Junior Firpo and Jack Harrison were all good opportunities, but the trio couldn’t hit the target when well placed.  

A first change in the game came just after an hour had passed, and it was for the away side. Adam Webster entered in place of Solly March. 

Looking for a moment of magic, Leeds and Raphinha came close to one. The Brazilian had a free-kick opportunity which he shaped to cross, but decided to shoot, forcing Sanchez into another excellent save. 

A quick break up the pitch involving Gelhardt and Rordrigo created another chance for Raphinha from the Spaniard’s low cross, but with the ‘keeper beaten this time, the ball trickled narrowly wide of the far post. 

The chances kept coming in front of goal but a combination of last-ditch Brighton defending and fine saves by Sanchez kept out further efforts from Harrison and Klich, before Gelhardt struck low and wide of the post.  

Finally, with almost the last chance of the game, brilliant footwork from Gelhardt in the area and a huge amount of composure saw the forward lift the ball to the back-post, where Struijk rose highest to head in and level the scores.

The goal sparked celebrations at Elland Road and the point moved Leeds United out of the bottom three, with one game remaining. Marsch’s side will now travel to face Brentford away from home on the final day of the campaign.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion