Leeds United trying to find form and Norwich City trying to gain points. A massive amount of tension in this match as both teams need to win this match. In the end it came down to a beautiful bit of brilliance.
Bielsa has insisted on a three-three-three set up again. It has not always worked out but Norwich presented a different opportunity with them currently a low scoring team.
Leeds are slowly building back to their optimal performance with Struijk back in defence and Phillips playing a slightly more midfield position. Rodrigo continued, in the absence of Bamford, as the first choice striker with Roberts and Gelhardt knocking on that door.
Early on there was a big opportunity for Dan James with only a covering defender stopping the ball on the goal line. Good link up with Dallas for James to use his pace to leave the Norwich defenders behind. He should have taken it earlier.
Leeds are still prey to set pieces with Meslier left standing still from a free kick taken quickly. This was a much improved Norwich from their fickle display last week, much more pressuring.
Signs of the old Leeds in the first twenty minutes with Raphinha threading the ball through to players in the penalty box. Leeds used Raphinha on the right to get the ball into the Norwich box using his pace and trickery.
Lots of movement in the team with left back Dallas popping up on the right wing. But Harrison and Rodrigo were not shining. In the first half hour Norwich had managed five shots to Leeds’ one. Lots of chances for Leeds but no players taking the final shot.
First half ends with no clear advantage. If Raphinha can make that final pass work. And then the game goes from boring to chaotic with mistakes everywhere.
The Leeds goal was Raphinha brilliance. A sublimely weighted pass from Struijk to James on the edge of the penalty box. James managed to chip it over Raphinha who weaved past two players and then through two more and the keeper into the net, with a slight deflection.
Absolutely no excuse for Meslier to give away the corner that then led to poor marking for Norwich to immediately equalise. Rodrigo then showed what he is capable of with a pass from Phillips. A quick one touch on target and shot hard under Krul’s hands to put Leeds ahead again. Perhaps Krul should have collected that.
The action continued with MacLean getting a free header; this time Meslier easily caught it.
Three goals in little over five minutes. There was a funny moment when Raphinha picked up the ball at the halfway line on the edge but took out Bielsa in the process.
Cody Dramah got his premier League debut replacing Shackleton who picked up an injury.
But another stupid error from Harrison who gave the ball away leading to a free kick on the edge of the penalty area. The free kick hit the wall thankfully.
Ben Forshaw was brought on in the last ten minutes replacing James as Norwich upped the tempo to grab that second goal. It became testy with a bad foul on Rodrigo and Dramah marking his debut with a yellow card. At the very end Roberts was brought on replacing Rodrigo. A straight swap. The crosses kept coming in on Meslier whilst Raphinha tested the Norwich defence.
Overall Leeds lacked sharpness to really put this game to bed. Meslier and Harrison made unnecessary mistakes. Phillips lacked dominance in front of defence. Fortunately Norwich lacked firepower whilst Leeds had Raphinha and Rodrigo
Man of the match: Raphinha
[…] It was ninety minutes of carnage – fouls and duels all over the pitch. The cross bar rattling away. A controversial goal. A penalty given and denied and then two goals in extra time. It took a moment of brilliance by Raphinha and Gelhardt to win the match at the death. Leeds United manage the double over Norwich City. […]