Leeds United finally ended their long wait for a goal from a corner in the 2-0 win over Sheffield United.
The Whites had not scored directly from such a situation since Pascal Struijk’s opener in the 4-0 victory against Ipswich Town last December. It was no surprise that Struijk was the man to do so.
Daniel Farke‘s side did score from a short routine against Swansea City back in February, and at Peterborough United a month earlier in the FA Cup, but none directly in the Championship from the first cross since Christmas.
Struijk’s instinctive first time effort was the goal that set Leeds on their way to a crucial three points over the Blades at Elland Road, with Mateo Joseph also on the scoresheet off the bench.
Chris Wilder admitted Leeds were much the better side post-match, and the win sees them climb above Sheffield United into second, and become the first team to beat them in the league this season.
Farke shares whether Rothwell corner was intentional
Leeds had a few corners in the match prior to the one Struijk scored from. With the likes of Harry Souttar and Kieffer Moore in the box for the away side, threat was at a premium.
Joe Rothwell himself had taken a couple of poor set-pieces in the match prior to his assist, and it would be fair to say it looked like another mishit cross when he first delivered it.
However, watching the goal back on replay, there certainly is an argument that Rothwell meant to put it in that exact area considering the run Struijk made.
And speaking in his post-match press conference, Farke revealed it is a routine Leeds had been working on and praised his staff for finally helping bring an end to this ‘curse’.
He said: “Happy days. Since the first day, I insisted that set pieces are important. My teams are always there on top with this. Not happy last season with this on our deliveries. I saw this goal coming from the corner. Lads, do me a favour and end this curse.
“Compliments to our guys in the staff working on this. This was what we executed what we planned, a low delivery. Need a few more this season.”
- READ MORE: Leeds player ratings from Sheffield United win at Elland Road as four stars shine with 8/10
Leigh Bromby left ‘gobsmacked’ by Leeds corner goal
Considering the aforementioned height in their team, Sheffield United were probably the last team Leeds were expecting to end their corner hoodoo against.
As such, that is exactly why they had to be creative in order to do so, with Rothwell getting his just rewards for putting it in the perfect area.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds during the match, Leigh Bromby could not work out whether Rothwell actually meant it, and was left ‘gobsmacked’ at the goal.
He said: “I am gobsmacked. It looks like he mishits the corner, whether he means it. It’s an unbelievable finish. Unbelievable. It’s an unbelievable finish. I don’t know whether that’s something they have worked on, or if it’s a miss-hit corner, but what a finish!”
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