Leeds United found themselves scrambling for an equaliser in their promotion showdown with Sunderland on Monday night. But in a pretty stunning turn of events, they won the game 2-1.
Leeds United and Sunderland went head to head at Elland Road in a promotion crunch match on Monday night, in a game that promised entertainment.
Last time out, Leeds thumped Watford 4-0 whilst Sunderland got a win over Luton Town, with seven points separating the two teams in the Championship table ahead of kick off.
And it was the visitors who struck first, doing so through Wilson Isidor who turned Ethan Ampadu and finished off the post for 1-0.
It’d take Daniel Farke’s Leeds until the 78th minute to find an equaliser with substitute Pascal Struijk heading home a Joe Rothwell corner.
Struijk then headed home a dramatic 95th minute equaliser to keep the Whites’ promotion hopes very much alive.
- READ MORE: Leeds United waiting on £16.7m call as Daniel Farke keeps tabs on possible summer recruit
Leeds United player ratings vs Sunderland
Illan Meslier – 6/10
Made a couple of nice saves early doors but other than that, it was a pretty quiet night for the Frenchman who sees a run of six-straight clean sheets come to an end.
Junior Firpo – 6/10
Got forward and had some good connections with Manor Solomon. But with Solomon not having his best game, Firpo didn’t have his either. Looked limited in what he could do against a stubborn Sunderland right side.
Ethan Ampadu – 5/10
His game was defined by that game-defining moment in the first half where he was so easily turned by Isidor for the opening goal. Defender relatively OK other than that moment, but what a damning moment it was.
Joe Rodon – 6/10
Looked really solid in the opening stages but seemed to lack communication with Ampadu alongside him from there on. Not a lot of defending to do in the second half until later on. Usual passing duty for Rodon.
Jayden Bogle – 7/10
At times he looked like Leeds’ best player, both in attack and defence. He had one or two sloppy moments in the game but he got forward well and caused Sunderland issues throughout, albeit without producing any big moments.
Ilia Gruev – 4/10
Didn’t look like the right selection in the midfield for this game. Ilia Gruev‘s sideways passing frustrated many Leeds fans on social media and he was hooked in the second half. Gruev was also on corner duty on the night, but he failed to find a teammate with any of them.
Ao Tanaka – 6/10
Didn’t have his best game for Leeds. Not by a long shot. He found it difficult to get into the game at times in the first half and when he did he didn’t have his usual impact of turning defence into attack. Few into the game eventually before coming off in the second half.
Manor Solomon – 7/10
Manor Solomon was arguably Leeds’ biggest attacking threat but he didn’t make much of note. Came up against a stubborn and physical Trai Hume at full-back and they had a good battle. Solomon took a knock early on which may have hindered him on the night.
Brenden Aaronson – 5/10
Pretty anonymous throughout the game. Had a couple of nice turns and passes but Aaronson barely had n impact on the night. That midfield was a bit too crowded for Aaronson to get on the ball and make things happen.
Dan James – 6/10
Only really hit his top speed on a couple of occasions. Certainly looks like Sunderland planned for James’ pace and sat back and got bodies behind the ball. He had a few nice link up plays with Bogle but didn’t do a lot with possession.
Joel Piroe – 6/10
Really did’ have much to do in the first half especially. Not through much fault of his own but the game just didn’t seem to suit him for the most part. had a couple of sights of goal including one nice ranged effort, but not a very stellar night for Piroe.
Pascal Struijk – 8/10
What can we say about Pascal Struijk? Came off the bench and proved to eb the unlikely hero on the night. The second goal in particular was very well taken.
Joe Rothwell – 7/10
Immediately changed the game with his dead ball ability. Simply needs to be starting games of this magnitude and quality.
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