Leeds United are back in the Premier League and here are some of the most important goals that have got them there.
It’s been an Easter Monday to remember for Leeds United as they have secured Premier League promotion after everything went their way.
Daniel Farke’s side slammed Stoke City for six earlier in the day, with Joel Piroe finding his scoring touch and notching four times.
Junior Firpo and Willy Gnonto rounded out the scoring to ensure that if Sheffield United didn’t defeat Burnley, Leeds would be back in the top flight.
The Clartes lived up their end of the bargain, defeating Chris Wilder’s side 2-1 to secure their own promotion in the process and set up a tight two-horse race for the title.
Leeds will be in for a massive windfall after earning their Premier League spot and here are seven of the most important goals that got them there.
Willy Gnonto vs Swansea
Swansea City 3-4 Leeds United will probably go down as the best game of the Championship season and it was an absolutely massive win for the Whites.
Farke’s side twice fell behind in Wales before finally taking the lead with 17 minutes to go but looked like they’d thrown it all away when Florian Bianchini levelled in the 90th minute.
Yet, there would be one last twist in the tale as Gnonto slotted in a dramatic winner just seconds later. It was a huge, galvanising mid-season win that put Leeds back on top and showed they meant business.
Brenden Aaronson vs Derby County
A hard-fought win in a dull game at Derby County in the midst of the busy festive fixture calendar won’t be a fondly remembered match, but Brenden Aaronson’s late, winning strike will be.
With just 12 minutes left on the clock, Aaronson started the move that saw Sam Byram, Manor Solomon and Piroe combine to send the American in on goal to find the bottom corner.
It was a beautiful team goal, perhaps Leeds’ best of the season, that earned a vital win in a hectic period of the season.
Pascal Struijk vs Sunderland
Leeds’ real crunch period came at the end of February when they played promotion-chasing Sunderland, title rivals Sheffield United and West Brom in succession.
Things weren’t looking good in their first of the three pivotal fixtures as Wilson Isidor gave Sunderland the first-half lead at Elland Road and Leeds were far from their best.
No one expected Pascal Struijk to make a difference when he came on but just a few minutes later he nodded in Joe Rothwell’s superb cross.
The centre-back sent the home crowd into delirium at the death when he repeated the trick to head Leeds in front and seal the victory.
Ao Tanka vs Sheffield United
Leeds have made a pulse-pounding habit of scoring crucial late goals this season and they did so again a week after defeating Sunderland.
This time it was a trip to Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United in a match that would practically determine which side would take the leading role in the title race.
Again, Leeds fell behind early on but mounted another remarkable comeback just when it seemed like they were out for the count.
Firpo dragged them level with a powerful header but it was Ao Tanaka who found the winner by squeezing the ball in at the far post and sparking wild scenes in the away end.
Piroe made it three to seal a memorable win and a vital one over a direct competitor and Yorkshire rival.
Zan Vipotnik vs Leeds United
As harsh as it sounds and as infuriating as it was at the time, Zan Vipotnik’s 96th-minute equaliser for Swansea City against Leeds on March 29 might have actually saved the promotion campaign, as it led to Illan Meslier being dropped.
The goalkeeper might have saved a penalty but he went from hero to zero by being at fault for both Swansea goals in the 2-2 draw.
Meslier has made costly mistakes throughout the season and Leeds would already be champions if not for the points dropped by his hands.
Karl Darlow has replaced him between the sticks since and has brought cool, calm competence to the position that has sured up Leeds’ back-line and helped them get the points needed in the final weeks of the season.
Dan James vs Middlesbrough
After winning just one game in six and slipping down to third, Leeds desperately needed a victory when they travelled to Middlesbrough at the start of April. Anything less would have been catastrophic.
The clinching goal came with just two minutes on the clock when Dan James bundled the ball over the line.
The Whites held on for a crucial three points that sent them back on a winning run and towards the Premier League.
Joel Piroe vs Stoke City
Piroe is the Championship top scorer with 19 goals and deserves a special mention, since it’s his many strikes that have fired Leeds back to the big time.
None more so than his massive four-goal haul against Stoke, with his clinical touch in front of goal returning at the perfect time after a nine-game drought.
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