Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday drew 1-1 in yesterday’s early kick-off
MARCO Matias’ wonder goal might have stolen the limelight but Uwe Rosler insists his Leeds side deserve their share of the spoils after fighting back to earn a point at Elland Road.
Almost 20 years to the day since Tony Yeboah graced Elland Road with a world class goal against Liverpool, Wednesday’s Matias scored a stunning strike of his own in what was ultimately a forgettable Yorkshire derby.
Chris Wood hit back in the second half to ensure spoils were shared and despite four successive league draws, Rosler was happy with his side’s effort.
“I am delighted by my players,” said Rosler. “It’s the third week of the season, we’ve already had to play four games in nine days, three of them away from home.
“Here we have come back from 10 down against a team that didn’t attack us in any real form or shape.
“They didn’t have one chance in the game. Their goal came as a wonder goal and I think we have to appluad their player.
“It was a fantastic individual effort. But, apart from that, I can’t remember one effort from them.
“I can’t blame my defenders because it was a wonder goal. For us to come back and push and push, I’m very happy.”
The match started in a fiery atmosphere, as expected of a whitehot White Rose clash, and the contest was less than a minute old when the first of six bookings was dished out – Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips penalised for a drag back on Kieran Lee.
Carlos Carvalhal’s men then put together an impressive passing sequence that ended with Matias shooting straight at ‘keeper Marco Silvestri.
Stuart Dallas then blazed over for Leeds before Sam Hutchinson failed to put the icing on the cake after another fine passage of buildup play from Wednesday.
Mirco Antenucci then went close with a pot-shot before the opener arrived eight minutes before the interval, courtesy of Matias’ rocket.
He picked up a long punt forward, flicked the ball over Liam Cooper’s head with his right foot and then volleyed beyond Silvestri and in off the bar with his left.
Leeds came out reinvigorated for the second half and skipper Sol Bamba planted a header straight at Lewis Price within the first minute.
Phillips then blasted a free-kick wide of goal before Rosler made a double switch, bringing on Alex Mowatt and Luke Murphy just before the hour mark.
And it was Mowatt who quickly made a difference within minutes of his introduction when he sprayed the ball to Dallas on the flank, who danced into the box and managed to pick out Wood for an easy tap-in.
Wednesday continued to press forward and the energetic Liam Palmer saw a header fall into the arms of Silvestri.
Wood then could have hit the winner after getting onto the end of Taylor’s sweet left-footed cross but directed a header wide of goal.
And Owls’ boss Carvalhal believes man of the moment Matias will only get better for Wednesday.
“Marco is a player that has done very well for us,” said Carvalhal. “The last few matches he has not been so good.
“But when you have someone who is such a big influence and has to play three games in under a week, then here after 50 or 60 minutes he was completely dead so we brought him off. At the moment he is doing very well but we believe he will be even better.”