Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe struck late goals as Leeds snatched a 3-1 win at promotion rivals Sheffield United to extend their lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.
An own goal from Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier had handed the Blades a half-time lead and after Junior Firpo had headed the visitors level, Tanaka and Piroe struck in the final three minutes.
Both managers, Chris Wilder and Daniel Farke, had earlier played down the notion this clash was a title decider with 12 games still to play, but Leeds have moved five points clear of second-placed Blades and, crucially, seven above Burnley in third.
🔥 ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE!!! pic.twitter.com/gl2X8x9kDJ
— Leeds United (@LUFC) February 24, 2025
Farke was serving a touchline ban after receiving his third yellow card of the season last week for celebrating his side’s stoppage-time winner against Sunderland.
The German looked on from the television gantry as Sheffield United set about his side from kick-off, with Leeds’ bid to ride the early storm undermined by Meslier’s jitters.
The Frenchman, whose late howler at Sunderland in October cost Leeds victory, had been in fine form since being at fault for all three goals in a 3-3 draw at Hull in January.
But he looked all at sea as his side came under early pressure.
Meslier had already dropped two crosses when he flapped at a corner, allowing Tyrese Campbell to get in a header, which was cleared off the goal-line by Ilia Gruev, and another fumble handed a 14th-minute lead to the hosts.
Callum O’Hare’s header from Ben Brereton Diaz’s teasing cross was tipped on to the crossbar and down on to the goal-line by Meslier and when Campbell headed the rebound against a post, the Leeds goalkeeper failed to gather the ball and instead parried into his own net.
The home side threatened again from Campbell’s cross, with Junior Firpo getting his toe to the ball a fraction before O’Hare.
Leeds steadily wrestled back control and began to create chances of their own, with Manor Solomon twice firing straight at Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper before half-time.
Meslier did well to gather Vini Souza’s dangerous through-ball early in the second period before Leeds’ appeals for a penalty, after Dan James went down under Jack Robinson’s challenge, were waved away by referee David Webb.
There was no let-up from the Blades though. Ao Tanaka nipped in to deny Sydie Peck a clear shot at goal and Souza’s effort forced Meslier into a low save.
Leeds substitute Mateo Joseph lashed a chance over the crossbar before Firpo hauled the visitors level with a thumping 72nd-minute header from James’ pin-point cross.
Harrison Burrows’ bouncing shot was well saved by Meslier and Piroe forced Cooper into a fine parry as both sides chased a winner.
Cooper then produced the save of the match to keep out substitute Wilfried Gnonto’s curling shot, but Leeds finished with a flourish.
Tanaka headed into the top corner following Firpo’s header from substitute Joe Rothwell’s corner with two minutes left and in the 90th minute Piroe lashed home Leeds’ third following James’ cut-back to seal victory.
Sarina Wiegman praised her England team after they “kept it simple” in a 5-0 rout of Nations League opponents Belgium at Ashton Gate.First-half goals from Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright underlined England’s control of the contest, and it could have been more but Alessia Russo twice hit the post.Substitute Aggie Beever-Jones scored her maiden Lionesses goal after 67 minutes, with n...
Valerien Ismael insisted he was the man to turn around Blackburn’s fortunes after a 2-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough played out on a night of sustained fan protests against the club’s ownership and his own management.Boro moved into the play-off places with a fifth win in seven as they make a late promotion charge, but it is a very different story for Blackburn who have dropped out of ...
Middlesbrough climbed up to fifth in the Championship with a 2-0 win over beleaguered Blackburn that piled pressure on Valerien Ismael and the club’s hierarchy at a febrile Ewood Park.Against a backdrop of angry fan protests against the Venky’s Group that has owned Rovers since 2010, Boro struck twice in the opening eight minutes to take control.Tommy Conway needed less than 90 seconds...
England comfortably preserved their unbeaten record in this season’s Nations League after a dominant display saw them brush aside Belgium 5-0 at Ashton Gate.First-half goals from Lucy Bronze and Millie Bright underlined England’s control of the contest, and it could have been more but Alessia Russo twice hit the post.Substitute Aggie Beever-Jones scored her first Lionesses goal after 6...
Tottenham will do everything they can to keep hold of winger Dejan Kulusevski amid reported interest from Serie A giants Napoli and AC Milan.According to GiveMeSport, Spurs see the 24-year-old as a key player and are planning for next season with the winger.It’s understood that any attempt to sign him would take a fee of around £50 million, which may reluctantly be accepted.Kulusevski h...
Arsenal have reportedly cooled their interest in Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins ahead of the summer transfer window.According to Sky Sports, Arsenal have set their sights on other targets after making an offer for the 29-year-old in January.The Gunners attempted to sign the England international with a reported £60 million offer, which was ultimately turned down by Aston Villa.It’s u...
Chelsea are reportedly keeping tabs on Borussia Dortmund youngster Jamie Gittens ahead of the summer transfer window.According to David Ornstein at The Athletic, the 20-year-old is one of several wingers Chelsea are taking a close look at.Gittens started the season with a bang but has fallen off somewhat, failing to register a goal contribution in 16 games across all competitions.Despite his drop-...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today.KAI GROOMING EPL Week 30!! Thomas Partey this season Cristiano Ronaldo reaches 20 league goals in a season for the 𝟏𝟓𝐭𝐡 time in his career Ange might not like what he's hearing next Haaland won’t be the same without KDB! These Two GOATs have always had immense respect for each other! Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Cred...
Premier League leaders Liverpool are going to have a busy summer transfer window.The Reds are currently working on new contracts for players like Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah while also preparing for the departure of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.Players like Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz are also facing an uncertain future at Anfield and could be replaced after this season.The Merseyside cl...
Alejandro Garnacho has dropped a Manchester United transfer hint by putting his £3.9m mansion up for sale after just a year.Garnacho puts £3.9m mansion up for saleCould hint at summer transferWinger nearly left Man Utd in JanuaryWHAT HAPPENED?Garnacho only bought the property in Bowdon last April but is already selling it, suggesting that a departure from United could be on the cards thi...
- 1 Reading extend unbeaten League One run to 11 games with win over Peterborough
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Hollywood superstar Anne Hathaway sends clear message to Bukayo Saka
- 7 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 8 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 9 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 10 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis