Leeds United took on Manchester City under the Elland Road lights.
A host of brilliant Leeds United chances ultimately counted for nothing as title-chasing Manchester City ended the club’s brilliant record under the Elland Road lights with a 1-0 success.
Leeds made a superb start that matched the cauldron of noise inside Elland Road and the Whites should have been ahead with just four minutes on the clock.
Jayden Bogle's excellent pass down the right channel released Brenden Aaronson who sent a perfect ball into the box for Dominic Calvert-Lewin who was free six yards out but sent his first time shot wide of the left hand post.
It was, though, just the start of a host of good chances for Daniel Farke's Whites who were unable to take any of them, Calvert-Lewin brilliantly turning Marc Guehi but firing just wide from a tight angle and Aaronson prodding another shot wide from a Bogle cross.
The best chance, though, Calvert-Lewin's early one aside, arrived when Anton Stach's pass sent Aaronson away one-on0one but the American's heavy touch allowed Gianluigi Donnarumma to gather.
After initially offering nothing against United's ferocious press, City gradually got going and Pep Guardiola's side squandered two good chances themselves in the space of a minute.
In for the injured Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush worked space to unleash a low drive from the left side of the Leeds box to which Karl Darlow got down well to save.
Moments later, a cross from the right picked out rising star Nico O'Reilly who should have scored with a free header that he placed too near to Darlow who saved.
A crucial touch from Pascal Struijk then snuffed out the threat of Marmoush after brilliant turn and touch from O'Reilly to play him in right in front of Darlow.
It all meant a very entertaining looked set to end goalless but that all changed as an amazing pass from Rayan Cherki carved Leeds open in the second minute of stoppage time.
The City star took out three men with his sliding pass that played Rayan Ait-Nouri in down the left channel and Ait-Nouri's sweeping cross picked out Antoine Semenyo who arrived at pace and could not miss from a few yards out.
There were no changes during the break, after which another fine pass from Stach presented another good chance for Calvert-Lewin, the striker picked out to the left of the box but his shot charged down by Matheus Nunes to forcer a corner.
City, though, squandered a good opportunity themselves moments later, a Nunes cross picking out Marmoush at the near post but the striker flashing his first time effort wide.
As the game passed the hour mark, a Ruben Dias cross-cum-shot saw Marmoush picked out again at the opposite side of the box but the forward’s shot on the stretch was well wide.
City were well on top and went close again as Ait-Nouri worked space for a shot on the edge of the box and smashed his effort just wide of the top right corner.
Semenyo then worked space for a shot in the area that was deflected wide for a corner from which Darlow produced a brilliant save to keep out Marc Guehi’s header.
Having already brought on Lukas Nmecha for Aaronson, Farke made a double change in the 75th minute as wingers Dan James and Willy Gnonto replaced Bogle and Gruev, Leeds moving to a back four.
Gnonto was quickly involved, playing his part as Leeds sent in a series of crosses that City managed to scramble clear as the noise levels inside Elland Road increased in the hope of a comeback.
From the other side of the pitch, an excellent cross from James was hacked behind for a corner which picked out late substitute Jaka Bijol but the Slovenian’s towering header was sent wide.
It proved the last real chance of the game, Leeds going hell for leather in the closing stages but City seeing out time although the drama was still not done with, Whites boss Farke shown a red card moments after the full-time whistle.
The Whites boss ran on to the pitch to confront referee Peter Bankes with words for the man in the middle but Bankes instantly pulled out a red card to give Farke his marching orders.
Leeds United: Darlow; Bogle, Justin, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Ampadu, Gruev, Stach; Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin. Subs: Perri, Bornauw, Bijol, Longstaff, Tanaka, James, Gnonto, Nmecha, Piroe.
Manchester City: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guéhi, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Bernardo, O’Reilly, Semenyo, Cherki, Marmoush. Subs:Trafford, Reijnders, Stones, Ake, Doku, Nico, Savinho, Khusanov, Foden.
Attendance: 36,838.
Continue Reading