It was the first of many special moments covering Leeds United over the past 12 months
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
14:12, 17 Feb 2026
Leeds United's Pascal Struijk (second left) scores the second goal against Sunderland
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Leeds United's Pascal Struijk (second left) scores the second goal against Sunderland(Image: PA)
February 17, 2025 will live long in the memory for me as a Leeds United reporter. The year as a whole will; promotion day, Manor Solomon’s last-gasp title winner down in Plymouth and the historic bus parade.
It’s been quite the 12 months for me in this role, and the significance of 2025 as a year for Leeds is not lost on me. For context, I started in this position a year ago in January, right slap-bang in the middle of an empty and frustrating transfer window.
It was all go, with Leeds in the thrust of a four-horse promotion chase. It would soon be whittled down to three not long after deadline day.
Sheffield United and Burnley were obviously gunning for the top two, and away trips to both teams would come within my first six weeks. The only home fixture against an automatic promotion rival was the visit of Sunderland.
The picture
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris arrives prior to kick off
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Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris arrives prior to kick off(Image: Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
The Black Cats were still in the top-two frame at that point, albeit were perhaps on the ropes when it came to automatic hopes. They came to Elland Road needing to win.
On a dark Monday night, Leeds did something they had not done in the league for six games - concede. Wilson Isidor managed to turn Ethan Ampadu, who had been faultless at centre-back in recent weeks, to fire home on 32 minutes and silence the home crowd.
It was the first time I had experienced angst inside Elland Road as Sunderland frustrated Leeds for the majority of the evening. If there was one overriding criticism that had been emanated to me from supporters about Daniel Farke, it was regarding substitutions.
It is no secret that the German tended to stick to type with very little starting XI rotation for the second half of the campaign. But on 71 minutes, he made perhaps one of the most significant double change in his Leeds tenure.
The comeback
Illan Meslier gestures to the Sunderland fans away Leeds United's winner
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Illan Meslier gestures to the Sunderland fans away Leeds United's winner(Image: Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
All knew of Pascal Struijk’s aerial ability but he had not started a game since being sidelined with injury following the New Year’s Day draw with Blackburn Rovers, in which he scored a penalty.
He was thrown on 19 minutes from time alongside Joe Rothwell, with Ao Tanaka and Ilia Gruev taken off. Looking back at the comments on social media at the time, this change brought a lot of criticism - taking two midfielders off and bringing on a defender. But it was a masterstroke.
Ampadu pushed up into midfield and Leeds sustained control. Junior Firpo won a free-kick on the left with 12 minutes to go and Rothwell curled the ball onto Struijk’s head. Pantomime villain Luke O’Nien could only boot the ball into the roof of the net, unable to keep it out. Bedlam. Hope.
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Pascal Struijk heads in Leeds United's equaliser against Sunderland
Leeds had the momentum but Sunderland kept Leeds out for four of the five minutes of injury time. With 20 seconds left to play, Rothwell swung in a corner.
Largie Ramazani’s shot from the header away was so wayward that it found Rothwell again on the flank. He feigned a cross and cut inside. In came the ball. There was Struijk on the goal-line. Elland Road explodes.
The celebrations
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Leeds United's Pascal Struijk (centre) celebrates with team-mates after the win at home to Sunderland(Image: PA)
The roar. The limbs. The expression on players' faces. The bench bolting off. Jayden Bogle’s bum slide. Farke’s on-pitch celebratory slip. Josuha Guilavogui helping the boss back up and jumping together in delight.
The north-east corner running to hoardings to embrace their heroes. Utter ecstasy. Utter chaos. Utter Leeds.
I remember letting out a guttural and loud ‘WOW’ as a peer grabbed my arm in disbelief when the ball hit the net. This is what I came into the industry for, moments like these. To be there, and witness it and to speak to those involved.
The aftermath
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Leeds manager Daniel Farke celebrates after Pascal Struijk's late winner at home to Sunderland(Image: Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
"We're not the tallest side and the feeling was in the last 20 minutes perhaps we had to score out of these moments,” Farke explained of the substitutions after full time. Funny how things change.
I later sat down with Joe Rothwell to speak about his season, and had to ask one question first - was that a cross or a shot?
“Er, 50-50,” he smiled. “It was one of them, I thought if I just put it into the area or try and hit the target with a bit of pace, it's either going to go in or someone's going to get their head on it.”
Rothwell is now at Sheffield United, whom Leeds would play a week after that 2-1 win over Sunderland in a match that came very close in terms rivalling for drama and significance. The away end when Tanaka scored is my Twitter header photo for a reason.
Farke would actually be banned from the touchline for that 3-1 win at Bramall Lane due to getting a third yellow card of the season amidst the Sunderland celebrations. He would be seen high up in the rafters with a phone pressed to his ear.
While the win at the Blades did not kick their opponents out of the automatic promotion race, a crestfallen Sunderland essentially were after Leeds’ comeback. Funny how things can turn out.
We spoke to Joe Rodon after full-time against Sunderland and he agreed that the match felt like a sliding doors moment. Leeds could have easily crumbled but showed a reslience that - eventually - would see them win the title.
'Head magnet' Struijk, as Rodon coined, heading home on the line and rippling the net before being covered from view by a sea of jumping fans in front of us in the West Stand will forever be burned into my memory.
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I’ve witnessed many special moments at Leeds United already, but this one will always be my first and therfore be one of the most treasured.