Leeds United 2 Bournemouth FC 2 – The curse of the late goal. As with Arsenal and Fulham, Leeds succumbed to a late goal. At home and with a win just minutes away in extra time it felt like a defeat.
Leeds have a particular history with Bournemouth FC, going to the infamous after-match celebrations there in 1990 when Leeds were promoted to the First Division. More recently, our connections are through players and their current manager. The fans spent the whole match (until he was subbed) booing Tyler Adams for legally forcing his way out of our club. Luis Sinisterra also left Leeds for Bournemouth, but his sickness record has seen him loaned out.
And then there is Andoni Iraola -the man who should have replaced Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United. How our future would have been different if we had compared to Jesse Marsch who we ended up with. On the other hand we did borrow Jaidon Anthony and Joe Rothwell from Bournemouth who were both popular.
Our last meeting with Bournemouth at Elland Road was a roller coaster; they were 3-1 until Sam Greenwood scored a belter, and we went on to win 4-3. This match was a welcome return to jeopardy at Elland Road. After a season in the Championship with a conveyor belt of wins, the Premier League is about risk and excitement.
Bournemouth were a good Premier League test for Leeds. They used the width well, were quick passing forward through our midfield and caught Leeds out with two set piece goals. Leeds struggled with their pace with Struijk and Rodon over ran at times but limited their shots on goal. In return Bournemouth closed down our wing play and crowded out whoever was on the ball. Leeds did respond well playing a physical game and counter attacking.
In the first half, we were overrun at times, closed down in the wings, and were nervous passing forward. Bournemouth dominated for long periods with cross after cross coming in for Darlow to collect.
It could have been different if Calvert lewin had scored with his chance in the first few minutes. Instead, a free kick just outside the penalty box so Leeds go behind semenya. Despite Aaronson lying on the ground the ball fizzed passed him.
Not noted for scoring from corners, Leeds managed to cause chaos just before half-time with Rodon scoring a rare header. Before the half-time whistle, Tyler Adams – booed all match – managed to get into a tussle with Ampadu, sorting him out, which raised the temperature in the ground for a moment.
Leeds came out in the second half with determination, and earned a second goal. Tighter marking. Winning tackles. From a masterful shot by Longstaff picking up a stray ball from a corner saw them take the lead. But then it was a nervous final 20 minutes as with Wolves and Fulham, which had Bournemouth pinning Leeds into their own penalty area.
Ultimately, their superior possession left Leeds tired, and a poorly timed substitution by Farke led to Leeds switching off during an injury-time free kick with Bournemouth scoring from a well-placed set piece. Leeds’ game management had worked well till then with more shots on goal, particularly from Calvert-Lewin and Harrison. Farke thought Leeds deserved to win, and Iraola admitted Bournemouth were lucky.
It feels like Leeds have an early season curse on the. Not content to lose 4-0 to Arsenal, Arsenal rubbed it in with a late fifth goal, and Leeds lost to Fulham with a late winner. This late equaliser cost Leeds two valuable points. It felt like a defeat. It was a strange day in general with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United all losing, and Tottenham grabbing an injury equaliser against Wolves.
Okafor continued to improve with his flair on the ball. Stach had a few Midas touches. Ampadu held the team together. Struijk struggled with the press on him and midway through the second half he was panicking. Gudmundsson gave that never die attitude to every tackle. Man of the match: Longstaff with his physical presence and top-class goal.
