Defeat for Hull City looks to have dented their hopes of reaching the EFL Championship playoffs, as Leeds United ran rampant in the second half to seal a 3-1 win at Elland Road and leapfrog Leicester City.
Sam Byram netted an early opener, and while the visitors drew level through Fabio Carvalho before the break, his goal wouldn’t be enough for a share of the spoils – with Crysencio Summerville and Dan James scoring late in the second half to seal the win for Daniel Farke’s side.
As it happened
As the sun set across England on a beautiful Easter Monday evening, Liam Rosenior’s visitors – considering they were without a win in five – started the brighter, with Ozan Tufan close to latching onto Abdulkadir Omur’s through ball early on. However, the Turkish connection didn’t come to fruition for the away side.
But it was at this point that Leeds began to strut the stuff that had propelled them into the race for automatic promotion, and they took the lead with just nine minutes gone. A wonderful run forward by Georginio Rutter saw the Dutchman dance past both Jaden Philogene and Jean Michael Seri before slotting the ball through to Crysencio Summerville down the left. The ever-impressive winger then fired towards goal, forcing the save out of Ryan Allsop, leaving the ball to drop for Sam Byram, who headed it home at the back post to give Daniel Farke’s side a big lead early on.
Embed from Getty ImagesExtraordinarily, Leeds somehow weren’t two to the good in the 24th minute, as Dan James’ cut back found Patrick Bamford at the far post, but the in-form striker couldn’t add to his personal tally for the season, as he scooped the ball over Ryan Allsop’s bar.
The Hull City goalkeeper would be celebrating ten minutes later, as Hull City’s increasing pressure on their hosts finally told. With Philogene seeing an original effort, the Tigers – who had collated 69% of the ball up to this point – recycled the ball through Tyler Morton. The Liverpool loanee then fizzed a ball back towards goal where fellow Red Fabio Carvalho steered the ball into the net from a few yards out.
Liam Rosenior would have been thrilled with his side’s response to Sam Byram’s opener for Leeds, but he wouldn’t have been impressed by Ryan Giles’ loose ball which almost led to Junior Firpo putting the hosts back in front; only for the Luton Town loanee’s blushes to be spared by Lewie Coyle’s block.
Embed from Getty ImagesA corner for the hosts just before half-time saw havoc ensue, as a flurry of opportunities for the home side saw Summerville fire the ball straight into Bamford, which then saw the linesman’s flag almost immediately.
That late pressure from Leeds continued into the second half as they looked to retake the lead, but Dan James’ strike was straight down the throat of Ryan Allsop who made a reasonably comfortable save. Jaden Philogene was almost made to pay moments later as his looseness saw Sam Byram in down the right and curled the ball in towards Bamford, but Lewie Coyle was there before the Leeds striker could pounce to clear the ball.
Daniel Farke’s men had a penalty appeal turned down just before the second half’s halfway mark, as Dan James went down under a challenge from Jean-Michael Seri, but referee Josh Smith didn’t think twice and waved away the appeal, as the Ivorian got a touch to the ball beforehand.
Three minutes from time, however, Regan Slater tripped Crysencio Summerville in the Hull City box, and Josh Smith this time thought the contact was enough for a spot kick. Summerville then picked himself up off the ground and fired the ball home from 12 yards out to put United in front late on.
Embed from Getty ImagesSeven minutes of added time at the end of the game was enough for Leeds United to add a third to their tally for the evening, as straight from a Hull City corner, Dan James was sent away down the right hand side. With Ryan Allsop out of his goal, the Welshman then attempted the audacious long range striker and succeeded, as Daniel Farke’s men sealed a win that could be pivotal come the final day of the Championship season on May 4th.
The lineups
LEE: Meslier; Byram, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo; Kamara, Gray; James, Rutter, Summerville; Bamford
HUL: Allsop; Coyle, Jones, Morton, Giles; Slater, Seri; Philogene, Omur, Tufan; Carvalho
