Leeds stun Championship leaders with late comeback – Leeds vs Leicester Match Report

First versus Second.

Two fallen giants looking to bolster their chances of returning to the Premier League. One clash that would see first place Leicester City take on second place Leeds United, the latter trailing by nine points in an intriguing clash, and ultimately an important six-pointer.

To add to the drama, whilst a Leeds win would see The Whites climb within 6 points of Leicester, a draw would see them remain just a point ahead of in-form Ipswich Town, or a loss remaining level, with The Tractor Boys having a game in hand too.

When the two met earlier in the season, it would be Leeds who took home three important points, with a Georginio Rutter goal in the 58th minute all that would separate the two teams.

Line Ups 

Leeds United

• 1 Meslier 
• 22 Gray
• 14 Rodon
• 4 Ampadu
• 3 Firpo
• 44 Gruev
• 8 Kamara
• 29 Gnonto
• 24 Rutter
• 10 Summerville
• 7 Piroe

Substitutes

• 5 Cresswell
• 6 Cooper
• 9 Bamford
• 12 Anthony
• 13 Klaesson
• 17 Shackleton
• 20 James
• 33 Roberts
• 49 Joseph

Leicester City 

First Half

The first major chance came for Leeds, a great pass from Archie Gray found Wilfried Gnonto, who played an exceptional one-two followed by a classy flick on with the back of his foot to find Joe Piroe, who, with 11 goals so far in the Championship, you would expect to find the target. He instead blazed over in a moment that would have left many Leicester fans nervous.

Leicester responded with a good move on the left wing, which saw James Justin whip in a good cross for Ricardo Pereira, who was somewhat unusually playing in defensive midfield, with Hamza Choudhury covering at right back. Pereira headed the ball tamely at Meslier instead.

Leicester pressure would continue as Stephy Mavididi took on Archie Gray one-on-one and found Patson Daka. His shot forced a corner from Illan Meslier.

The Foxes took advantage of this set piece. A low, near-post corner was headed into the box by a diving Daka. Wout Faes took an easy head in for just his second goal of the season. It was also only the second goal Leeds have conceded in 2024.

Leeds looked to respond immediately, a speculative long ball by Piroe was won by the rapid Gnonto, and his returned cross found the head of Piroe, who could only place it wide.

Leeds missed another major chance, as Georginio Rutter found the running Gnonto with a through ball. The 20-year-old’s touch, however, failed him. He cut inside, but Harry Winks had tracked back well to smother any chance at a shot.

Again, Leeds’ speed caused problems. Crysencio Summerville burst past Choudhury, but Jannick Vestergaard threw a long leg out to again prevent a shot.

After the flurry of chances, the game largely bogged down and became a much more physical, battling performance. The two teams traded fouls and blows, neither capable of bringing the free-flowing football they’ve played this season against the other. Fallen bodies and pleading of ignorance was common between the two teams, with nine fouls in the first half alone.

Second Half

A slow start to the second half followed, Rutter had a half chance after good work by Summerville, but his aimed strike went over the bar under pressure.

Leicester started to impose themselves on the match. Whilst they didn’t create many chances, they started to control the game, Leeds’ failed to find their many quick runners while the Foxes stamped out any potential passes to send them through.

This changed approach bore fruit, as some good football produced a chance for Mavididi, who created a good chance which forced a diving save and a strong hand from Illan Meslier to turn it wide.

A goal for Leicester was then given as an offside in a heart-in-mouth moment for Leeds, from another corner Vestergaard rose up, but his header came off the post. The ball rebounded back towards the goal, but Daka’s tap-in was ruled out for offside. There was some debate over the goal, with replays potentially showing the ball coming off a Leeds defender, which would mean Daka is offside.

Chances came once again as Mavididi again went one-on-one with Meslier, the Frenchman again stood up to the number ten, but Leicester began to build momentum. Once again Mavididi managed to get one-on-one with Meslier. A fantastic through ball from Dewsbury-Hall nestled into the path of the talented attacker, but his shot was dragged wide under pressure from Archie Gray and a rushing Meslier.

Leeds’s pressure came to nought, as multiple chances for shots was charged down by a brave Leicester defence, not content to even allow a shot at Mads Hermansen. Finally, one shot got through, as some good passing found the substitute Patrick Bamford, but his shot was in the middle of the net and largely a comfortable save for Hermansen.

“Daka might have nightmares about that one,” said the commentators. An excellent run from Pereira found Leicester in a two-on-one, and the squared ball to Daka had him alone with the keeper in the middle of the box. Many would have expected the net to bulge, instead he failed to even find the target, and dragged the best chance of the game wide.

More changes followed, and once again the game slowed down. Leicester were seemingly content to protect their lead with Leeds largely unable to break through a solid defensive line from the Foxes.

Then against the run of play, Leeds equalised. The electric Rutter drove through multiple players, the ball broke favourably for Connor Roberts, who took his chance excellently, caressing the ball into the bottom right corner. 

Less than two minutes later, it was 2-1 to Leeds. Leeds came back into the game with renewed confidence, and an Archie Gray shot from just inside the box took a wicked deflection off Wout Faes. Hermansen was flatfooted, the ball dropped into the bottom left corner, and within three minutes the entire script of the game had changed.

Elland Road was bouncing, the home supporters saw a quickfire comeback from their team, and tensions flared on the pitch too. Fouls flew thick and fast, Connor Roberts picked up a yellow for a mistimed tackle on Kasey McAteer, and Leicester manager Enzo Maresca looked increasingly frustrated on the sideline.

Five minutes were added on, and Leicester had to largely abandon their previous game plan, committing men forward into attack. The opened space led to yet another Rutter run, with Vestergaard forced into a clinical foul to prevent a potential one-on-one, but instead picked up a free kick in a dangerous area.

Dan James delivered the ball, the Welshman opted for a shot, which collided with Pereira, once again flat footing Hermansen.

The full-time whistle was blown, and Leeds secured a massive three points to see them rise four points ahead of Ipswich, and just six points behind Leicester, a potentially massive opening of the title race.