The Championship attracted the second-highest aggregate crowds of any division in Europe last season and, on this compelling evidence, it is easy to understand why. If this “blink and you’ll miss it” game of oscillating emotions and full-on entertainment served up by Leeds and Portsmouth here is anything to go by, England’s second tier will surely remain ahead of the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A, and behind only the Premier League, in this term’s attendance charts, too.
As with all the best dramas, it kicked off with a thoroughly deceptive red herring of an opening 20 minutes. By the time an elegant swipe of Pascal Struijk’s left foot had sent Will Norris the wrong way from the penalty spot, Leeds were not so much on top as utterly omnipotent. With nine minutes on the clock when the penalty was given after Connor Ogilvie felled Dan James, Portsmouth were well and truly on the ropes.
This trip marked the promoted visitors’ return to Championship combat for the first time since 2012. As Wilfried Gnonto, Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev had efforts hit the woodwork in the space of a manic 90 seconds, those travelling fans who had departed the south coast before dawn harboured reason to reflect on the old adage about being careful what you wish for.
Leeds had yearned to be preparing for a Premier League season but May’s playoff final defeat by Southampton ensured they remain in the second tier. Their status before kick-off as nailed-on favourites for automatic promotion started seeming slightly optimistic after Marlon Pack’s clever pass set up Elias Sørensen’s crisp 23rd-minute equalising shot, which Illan Meslier touched but failed to hold. If the Leeds goalkeeper looked a little unhappy with himself, Portsmouth’s newfound confidence was almost palpable.
As uncertainty and hesitancy re-entered the home vocabulary, Daniel Farke appeared resigned rather than surprised when, with half-time beckoning, Callum Lang’s sublime half-volley flew past Meslier after Pack’s free-kick was headed partially clear.
“It’s the Championship,” the Leeds manager said. “We played maybe the best first 20 minutes I’ve seen … and then … you can’t really explain why.”
As the visitors celebrated the first of Lang’s two goals, the bright sunshine that greeted kick-off gave way to a heavy shower that Farke quite possibly regarded as presaging a coming storm.
At least Leeds, who have sold last season’s outstanding Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville to Tottenham and West Ham respectively, still have Gnonto. The second half had barely begun before the much-coveted Italy winger issued a timely reminder of his immense potential by showing off a tremendous change of pace before cutting in from the left and sending a low shot swerving beyond Norris’s grasp.
Even with Gnonto around, Leeds struggled to deconstruct an increasingly obdurate, and impressively resilient, defence. Portsmouth are also nothing if not opportunistic and looked to have secured all three points two minutes into stoppage time when Jayden Bogle brought down the substitute Christian Saydee on the edge of the area. Lang’s impeccably executed, if contentiously awarded, penalty proved far too good for Meslier.
Leeds’s own bench helped ensure Portsmouth could not maintain that lead. Three substitutes – Joel Piroe (with a smart assist), Patrick Bamford (as a defender-distracting decoy) and Brenden Aaronson (thanks to a fine right-foot shot, the scorer) – combined to clinch a face-saving 95th minute point.
Aaronson should probably have won it a couple of minutes later but shot tantalising wide from a highly inviting position.
“Very, very difficult to sum up,” said John Mousinho, the Portsmouth manager. “But a brilliant point.”
