Leeds United’s late fight secures a 3-1 victory over Sheffield United
Leeds United pulled off a dramatic 3-1 win over Sheffield United, extending their lead at the top of the Championship by five points. It was their second comeback in a row after beating Sunderland last week.
Sheffield United took the lead when Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier made a mistake. He tried to save a header from Callum O'Hare, but the ball hit the bar. Tyrese Campbell’s rebound hit the post and bounced off Meslier into the net, giving the home team the lead.
Leeds found their rhythm in the second half. Junior Firpo equalised with a powerful header from Dan James' cross. With the game nearing a draw, Ao Tanaka scored a header off a corner in the 89th minute to give Leeds the lead. Moments later, Joel Piroe sealed the win with a brilliant strike from 20 yards, making it 3-1.
With this win, Leeds have not lost in their last 16 matches. They are seven points ahead of third-place Burnley. Sheffield United, who had won four games in a row before this, stayed in second place, with two points between them and Burnley.
Leeds shows resilience after a rough start
The game didn’t start well for Leeds. Meslier struggled early on, almost scoring an own goal from a corner. Then, he misjudged a long throw-in that caused more trouble. Despite making a big save on O'Hare’s header, Meslier’s luck ran out. He couldn’t stop Campbell’s header from hitting the post, and the ball bounced off him into his net.
In the last part of the first half, Leeds had a few chances but couldn’t score. They were much better in the second half. Firpo’s header brought the game level. Meslier also made big saves to stop Sheffield United from getting another goal.
In the final minutes, Tanaka scored with a header from a corner, and then Piroe added a long shot that sealed the victory. Leeds showed great spirit, proving why they’re at the top of the table.
Sheffield United left disappointed
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder gave credit to Leeds for their strong performance. He said his team played well at the start but lost control late. He was upset about giving up two goals in the last minutes, mostly from set-pieces.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke was proud of his team’s fight after a tough start. He said they found extra energy in the second half and deserved the win. Farke stressed that each win brings them closer to their goal of staying on top.
Next games for both teams
Leeds will now face West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, hoping to keep their strong form. Sheffield United will look to bounce back against Queens Park Rangers on the same day.
