Leeds United 1-1 Sunderland

Last updated : 30 July 2018 By leedsunited.com

Whites comeback to earn point.

Sky Bet Championship

Leeds United 1 (Hernandez 72) Sunderland 1 (McNair 48)

It was honours even at Elland Road in a fiery and entertaining clash between Leeds United and Sunderland.

Head coach Paul Heckingbottom made three changes from the side that started at Fulham on Tuesday, youngster Paudie O’Connor made his Leeds United debut, whilst Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Kalvin Phillips returned.

Leeds almost went in front when Pablo Hernandez flashed a cross across the face of goal, but neither Ezgjan Alioski or Lasogga could get on the end of it.

Ronaldo Vieira then came within inches of opening the scoring when his snap shot was saved onto the post by Lee Camp.

 It was Leeds again who came close when Hernandez swapped passes with Alioski only to see his shot from a narrow angle superbly stopped by Camp.

Leeds stopper Bailey Peacock-Farrell then had to be alert to keep out an Aiden McGeady header, following a good cross from Lynden Gooch.

 Sunderland almost took the lead four minutes before the break, when Ashley Fletcher then saw his header from McGeady’s corner hit the crossbar.

Half Time: Leeds United 0-0 Sunderland

Sunderland took the lead at the start of the second half when Donald Love’s through ball was fired into the roof of the net by Paddy McNair, giving Peacock-Farrell no chance.

Lynden Gooch then fired a shot wide for the visitors as they looked to go further in front, whilst McNair tried his luck from distance, but Peacock-Farrell held his shot.

Leeds substitute Kemar Roofe, returning from injury then did well to get to the Sunderland byline,  he pulled the ball back for Alioski, but he fired into the kop.

Leeds got their equaliser when Hernandez controlled in the Sunderland box, before curling a lovely shot past Camp into the right corner, in the 72nd minute.

The Whites then had Peacock-Farrell to thank, when he kept Leeds level with a point blank save to deny Fletcher’s header at a corner.

Following a mix up in the Leeds defence, McNair had a golden chance to give the Black Cats the lead once again, but shot straight at Peacock-Farrell from 10 yards.

Lee Camp then denied Samuel Saiz with an outstanding one handed save when he went through on goal, before the Spaniard saw a free-kick come back off the post.

Gaetano Berardi saw red late on for Leeds, for a dangerous tackle on Sunderland substitute McManaman, who Peacock-Farrell denied late on with a superb save, to ensure the Whites picked up a point.

Full Time: Leeds United 1-1 Sunderland

 

Leeds United: Peacock-Farrell, Berardi, Jansson, O’Connor, Dallas, Phillips (Roofe 64), Vieira, Saiz (Anita 90), Hernandez, Alioski, Lasogga (Ekuban 68), Subs not used: Lonergan, Grot. Pearce, Nicell

Sunderland: Camp, Love, Kone. O’Shea, Wilson, Cattermole (LuaLua 90), McNair, Honeyman (Ejari 83) , Gooch, Fletcher, McGeady (McManaman 88), Subs not used; Steelex Matthews, Asoro, Clarke-Salter

 

Referee: J Simpson

Booked: O’Connor, Jansson (Leeds), Kone, McManaman (Sunderland)

Sent off: Berardi (Leeds)

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 30,461