Leeds United Soar to Second in Championship with a thrilling win over Middlesbrough
Join Leeds United’s ascent to second place in the Championship as they break their three-game winless streak with a thrilling victory over Middlesbrough. Experience the excitement of this pivotal match.
Pursuing promotions After ending their three-game losing streak, Leeds United secured a stunning victory at Middlesbrough to move up to second place in the Championship.
Isaiah Jones’ header gave the home team an early lead, but Crysencio Summerville’s penalty, following Anfernee Dijksteel’s careless foul on Georginio Rutter, immediately tied the score.
Within four minutes, Junior Firpo’s deft cross from the left was converted by Patrick Bamford to put Leeds ahead. However, Emmanuel Latte Lath, who has been in form, leveled the score for Boro with a powerful right-footed goal from eighteen yards.
Replays revealed that the Italy forward was offside when the pass was made, but Willy Gnonto finished strongly after being played in by Summerville to give Leeds a 3-2 lead at the half.
After being passed in down the left and cutting back on to his right, Summerville, the Championship’s player of the year, appeared to have put Leeds ahead with a clinical effort. However, Latte Lath’s incredible looping header set up a tight last few minutes.
Leeds has now played one more game than Ipswich, but the three points propel them back up to second place.
Those in charge If the Whites had lost on Teesside on Tuesday, Leicester would have been able to guarantee promotion to the Premier League with a victory over Southampton.
Michael Carrick’s team lost, ending both their nine-game winning streak and slim prospects of qualifying for the playoffs.
5-0 in the first half… once more
Remarkably, Leeds led 3-2 at halftime of the rematch in December at Elland Road.
It was another exciting start to this match, even if the teams were unable to match the three goals scored in the first seven minutes in West Yorkshire.
When Finn Azaz’s attempted through ball veered into Latte Lath’s path, he was able to nick the ball onto Jones, who tapped into an empty net to give Boro the lead.
Leeds had only scored once in their previous three games and had lost two of them, but they quickly tied the score.
After Summerville replaced the ineligible Luke Ayling with Rutter, the Dutchman hauled him down in the area, allowing Summerville to score his 19th goal of the year with cool efficiency.
Leeds took the lead when former Boro striker Bamford used his hip to turn in Firpo’s cross, despite the home team’s defense and goalkeeper Seny Dieng arguing that the ball was offside.
Latte Lath tied the score with a spectacular strike as he raced across the face of the 18-yard box, but Gnonto put Leeds ahead with a composed finish following a sharp attack at the end of a wild opening forty-five minutes.
Leeds were happy to give the home team control and try to play on the counter; thus, the second half lacked the intensity of the thrilling first.
When they regained possession of the ball on the halfway line, Firpo skillfully sent the ball to the outstanding Summerville, who cut in and curled home.
That naturally demoralized Boro, who needed to win to salvage any hope of a play-off bid, and the game looked to be ending until Latte Lath struck with a brilliantly improvised header from Alex Gilbert’s long ball forward.
Given an unexpected lifeline, they gave it everything they had in an attempt to score another goal, with Dieng coming up with many late set pieces, but Leeds managed to hold out for their first victory since April 1.
Leeds might be four points ahead of Ipswich before the Tractor Boys visit Hull on Saturday, when they play their final away game of the season against QPR on Friday.
Michael Carrick, the Middlesbrough manager, said on BBC Radio Tees:
“In general, I liked it. I felt the football game was excellent, and we did our part to make it so. “I believed the boys had a lot to be happy about. Though I’m devastated by the outcome, I’m actually delighted with the performance. “I was annoyed by the extra time at the end and by Gnonto’s goal, which was clearly offside and Leeds’ third. You must have faith in the linesman, and we are asking the boys to work together to hold the line. He’s a yard offside, and that was excellent defending.”
Daniel Farke, Leeds’ manager, spoke on BBC Radio Leeds:
“It was good advertising for championship football, to start with. Each squad gave it their all and was determined to win.
“They came in undefeated after nine games and played with a fair amount of freedom, but we responded so well, playing with fire in our hearts. “Their goalkeeper was more in our box than theirs for the last six or seven minutes, which was unbelievable. We felt the pressure as they attempted everything, but we remained strong and resilient.”
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