In a thrilling encounter at Bramall Lane on Monday, Japan’s Ao Tanaka and Dutch forward Joel Piroe netted crucial late goals, enabling Leeds to overcome a deficit and secure a 3-1 victory over promotion challengers Sheffield United. This triumph sees Leeds extend their lead at the summit of the Championship to five points.
The match, an all-Yorkshire battle against second-placed Sheffield United, fortified Leeds’ aspirations of returning to the lucrative Premier League, with only the top two teams guaranteed promotion to the top tier.
With this win, Leeds now stands seven points clear of third-placed Burnley, who have 12 league matches left to play, while Sheffield United’s defeat leaves them just two points ahead of the Clarets.
Leeds suffered an early setback when an own goal from goalkeeper Illan Meslier gave the Blades an advantage that lasted until the 72nd minute.
However, Junior Firpo’s equaliser brought Leeds back into the match, before Tanaka and Piroe sealed the win in the closing three minutes.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke watched from the stands due to a touchline ban following his third yellow card of the season, which he received for celebrating a stoppage-time goal against Sunderland the previous week.
His absence was felt as Meslier endured a challenging start to the match. The young keeper initially struggled with two dropped crosses and a corner that prompted a goal-line clearance before the home side took the lead in the 14th minute.
After a diving save from Meslier kept a header from Callum O’Hare at bay, the rebound from Tyrese Campbell struck the post, only for Meslier to inadvertently divert the ball into his own net.
The Blades maintained their 1-0 lead until Leeds found their footing 18 minutes before the end, with Firpo powering home a header from a Dan James cross.
Though Sheffield’s goalkeeper Michael Cooper produced a spectacular save from Wilfried Gnonto’s curling effort, Leeds pressed on relentlessly.
Tanaka restored Leeds’ lead with a header into the top corner just two minutes from time, after Firpo’s header from a Joe Rothwell corner. This sparked jubilant celebrations among the travelling supporters.
Piroe then added a third in the 90th minute, firing a powerful shot to confirm the victory.
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