By Keith Ingham
Back in the sixties Frankie Vallie and the four seasons brought out a single named ‘Oh what a night’ and boy that was some night, not in late December but on cold February night under the lights at Elland Road. The old ground has seen many nights like this, but has there been a more important one, when the ‘sexy pirate’ Pascal Struijk rose highest to plant a Joe Rothwell cross into the Sunderland net.
Nearly twelve months ago another late show saw Leeds come from behind to beat Leicester City 3-1 with three late goals and put pressure on the leaders in a three horse race for promotion. It ended in tears at Wembley but this time the feeling in a bouncing Elland Road is that there will be a different outcome for Farke’s squad.
Backed by a full house and a rousing version of Marching on Together welcoming them to the field, Leeds knew that a win would give them a ten point gap to their opponents and seven on third placed Burnley. Surprisingly it was Sunderland that had the first chance, Le Fer beating Bogle on the right and putting a cross that found Bellingham. His shot was well saved by Meslier and so was the follow up. The dark memories of October and Hull seem to be behind the young Frenchman. The next action unfortunately saw the visitors take the lead. A good ball was placed behind Firpo, Isidor rolled Ampadu and found the net via the post. Bollocks !
This wasn’t in the script, it was our moment to show the other top two teams we meant business but all we had at the break to moan about was a lot of possession and a half chance that Firpo provided, but James saw his headed effort hacked away. 0-1 at half time. I’ve a feeling ‘words’ were exchanged in the break because Leeds looked a lot more lively in the second half, but once again a quick counter attack by the visitors forced Meslier to save a tame effort by Hulme.
Joel Piroe stung the hands of Paterson from distance, the keeper doing well to push the ball to safety. Around seventy minutes Farke had seen enough and a change or two was needed, but it wasn’t who we expected to come on. Pascal Struijk and Joe Rothwell were introduced with AO Tanaka and Gruev both on yellow cards leaving the action. This meant Ampadu moved forward and Struijk partnered Rodon at the back. Rothwell was always looking to put Leeds on the front foot and with less than fifteen minutes to play Firpo was tripped and from the resulting free kick, Rothwell’s superb ball into the area was headed into the net, a despairing Sunderland boot taking the ball into the top of the net.
Fans around jumped for joy and Sunderland’s players heads dropped. Previously they had dropped points from a winning position. Ramazani and Joseph joined the action straight after the goal, replacing Solomon, who’d had a frustrating game and Aaronson who also struggled to make an impact. They wasted no time getting into the thick of the action as Sunderland’s legs started to go. They looked knackered with minutes to play. As the clock ticked towards the ninety minute mark Leeds pushed forward and their last substitute was introduced, Sam Byram for Junior Firpo who looked less than happy at being subbed off.
Five minutes of injury time was shown by the fourth official, as it was the loudest roar came from the throats of the fans. Bogle and James combined down the right and the ball went out for a corner. Rothwell took aim with a curling corner that beat most assembled, but it fell to Ramazani who swung a boot and it shoot across the box to the waiting Rothwell. The midfielder turned inside put the ball on his left peg, he moved inside and delivered a perfect ball to be met inside the six yard box by Pascal Struijk who headed into an empty net.
The scenes following the goal will live long in the memory. Players celebrating with the fans, Farke running on and upended by Guilavogui as the substitutes joined their teammates. All around fans hugged, fell over in the aftermath.
The final whistle brought out Kaiser Chiefs ‘I predict a riot’, Joy Division’s updated ‘Leeds are falling apart again’ sung in the direction of the departing Sunderland fans and ‘Marching on Together’ as the players jumped around the field in celebration. This might just be the moment that the balance at the top of the division went Leeds’ way.
We will have to see but whatever happens nobody will forget this night in February. It’s was just magic ! MOT
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