Leeds United produced a thrilling comeback to defeat Sheffield United 3-1 at Bramall Lane on Monday, extending their lead at the top of the Championship to five points.
For the second time in eight days, Daniel Farke’s men had to come from behind, sealing victory with two late goals from Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe.
How the Match Unfolded
- Sheffield United took an early lead in the 14th minute when Tyrese Campbell’s shot deflected in after a defensive scramble inside the box.
- Illan Meslier had a nervy start, almost pushing the ball into his own net, but Ilia Gruev saved the day with a goal-line clearance.
- Manor Solomon came closest for Leeds in the first half, but his low strike was well saved by Michael Cooper.
- Leeds dominated after halftime, with Junior Firpo equalizing in the 73rd minute after rising high to meet Daniel James’ cross.
- Wilfried Gnonto forced a great save from Cooper, but Leeds capitalized on the resulting corner, with Ao Tanaka turning in Firpo’s flick-on in the 89th minute.
- Joel Piroe put the game to bed two minutes later, smashing a powerful shot past Cooper to seal all three points.
Data Debrief: Leeds in the Driving Seat
- Leeds are now five points clear at the top of the Championship.
- They have scored 20 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season, more than any other team in the league.
- Despite struggling in the first half (0.28 expected goals (xG) vs. Sheffield United’s 1.09), they dominated the second half (12 shots worth 1.0 xG vs. Sheffield’s 0.18 xG).
Final Thoughts
This hard-fought victory further cements Leeds’ title credentials, showcasing their resilience and attacking firepower.
With momentum on their side, Daniel Farke’s men are looking like strong favorites for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
