Moment of ture for Elland Rd faithful
IT took Leeds’ brilliant Brazilian Raphinha 72 minutes to come to the boil – but a piece of samba magic rescued Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
Seeking redemption for the opening-day 5-1 hammering at Manchester United and in front of a fully-charged Elland Road, things were not going to plan.
And Raphinha had been forced to take second billing as Everton’s widemen Demarai Gray, Alex Iwobi and the temperamental Richarlison took on Toffees boss Rafa Benitez’s orders to wing it.
But, at 2-1 down and the first full league house since they were last among the elite in 2004, Raphinha struck.
A cross from the home side’s Kalvin Phillips – whose quarterback-style passing had not received its due reward – caused confusion in the Everton ranks.
It allowed skipper Liam Cooper to set up Raphinha for a stupendous finish from the edge of the area.
Either side settling for a draw? Forget it, this was football without a safety net, two teams going for the jugular.
Benitez said: “We had chances to score a third goal and, if that had happened, we would be talking about something different.
“We’ve had 17 attempts away from home, some clear chances.
“Marcelo Bielsa has been working with his team for three years, we’ve had six weeks, so I’m pleased with four points from two games.”
But there were cries from the home players and their revved-up fans in added time when substitute Fabian Delph floored Raphinha in the area with a full-blooded challenge.
A VAR check confirmed nothing was illegal as the Leeds player rolled around on the ground.
Leeds boss Bielsa admitted: “It was a game which was a big test for the team and this was multiplied because we were behind twice.
“Given the amount of minutes we dominated, we should have created more chances.”
Earlier, Everton had found a friend when they most needed it, VAR minder Kevin Friend advising referee Darren England to take a look at the pitch-side monitor after Dominic Calvert-lewin had gone down in the box following a challenge from Cooper.
Yet another cross from an adventurous Everton side – this time from Lucas Digne – had asked questions of the home defence.
A close inspection by England decreed that Calvert-lewin had been impeded.
Just what a Sheffieldborn lad was looking for, a spotkick in front of the baying Don Revie stand.
The England striker lapped it up, firing past Illan Meslier and putting a finger to his lips and then turning and showing his name to the incensed home support. But a fully-charged
Elland Road was soon bouncing again with energy as Mateusz Klich levelled just before the break.
Patrick Bamford had just been booked for continuing what appeared a feud with Yerry Mina – the Everton player also collecting a yellow card after a set-to by the corner flag.
But Bamford displayed his more mature side with a neat pass, which Klich confidently dinked over Jordan Pickford.
After the jousting of an
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Bielsa’s worked with his team for three years, we’ve had six weeks, so I’m pleased with four points
BRAZILIAN ACE PULLS ONE
OUT OF THE TOP DRAWER
entertaining opening half, it was now all set up for a humdinger final 45 minutes, with both teams committed to attacking, mostly down the flanks, as wingers seem to have come back in vogue.
And one of them, Gray – unwanted by Leicester and brought to Merseyside for just £1.5million from Bayer Leverkusen – gave the Toffees a 50th-minute lead.
At the second attempt, the hardworking Abdoulaye Doucoure managed to find Gray lurking in the area and at first he seemed to miscontrol the pass only to regain his balance and poise to thread a low shot into the corner of the net.
Leeds were rattled and almost conceded again when Gray this time was the provider with a low cross, which Calvert-lewin prodded goalwards only for Meslier to make an instinctive stop.
And the French keeper foiled Calvert-lewin yet again after the striker moved in for the kill from an Alex Iwobi ball, Meslier throwing his body in the way. He also saved well from sub Andros Townsend as the game flowed from end to end.
Benitez said: “We were expecting the team to start well this season. This was always going to be a difficult game, so I’m pleased with four points out of six.”
On the penalty incidents, with one given to Everton and one not given to Leeds, Bielsa added: “The referee and VAR do what is fair and what they see.”