Substitute Pascal Struijk’s stoppage-time header snatched a 2-1 win for Leeds against Sky Bet Championship promotion rivals Sunderland at Elland Road.
Struijk headed the winner in the fifth minute of added time having also headed a late equaliser after Wilson Isidor’s opener had given the Black Cats a deserved half-time lead.
Daniel Farke’s side extended their unbeaten league run to 15 matches and climbed back to the top of the table, 10 points clear of Sunderland, who remain fourth after their eight-match unbeaten league run was halted.
🤯 WHAT AN ENDING!!! pic.twitter.com/lefeyXm8P1
— Leeds United (@LUFC) February 17, 2025
Sunderland went close to silencing a raucous home crowd in the opening skirmishes, with Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier producing a fine double save to keep out Jobe Bellingham’s low shot and then Patrick Roberts’ follow-up.
Leeds, who had scored 13 goals in their three previous league games without conceding, had plenty of possession, but struggled to make in-roads against the well-drilled visitors.
Brenden Aaronson’s effort from outside the box in the 27th minute, which flew over the crossbar, was the Whites’ first attempt on goal.
The home side were then rocked in the 32nd minute when Isidor latched on to Dan Ballard’s pass into the right edge of the box and turned inside Leeds skipper Ethan Ampadu to plant a low finish in off the far post.
It was the French forward’s 12th league goal of the season, the first Leeds had conceded in six home league matches and just the seventh at Elland Road all season.
It was also a just reward for Sunderland’s impressive first-half performance.
Leeds tried to respond, but Dan James could only fire straight at Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson after cutting inside the area.
The rattled home side’s frustrations were clear when Jayden Bogle scythed down Bellingham and earned himself a yellow card shortly before half-time.
Leeds pressed forward at the start of the second period, but were met with dogged resistance.
Manor Solomon’s dangerous low cross was snaffled by Patterson as the visitors continued to close down all avenues in and around their penalty area.
Leeds had two penalty appeals turned down by referee Stuart Atwell, the first when Dennis Cirkin and Ao Tanaka went to ground and the second when Aaronson’s cross appeared to strike the defender’s arm.
Tanaka’s effort curled wide of Patterson’s left-hand post as Leeds cranked up the pressure and the Sunderland goalkeeper saved well to keep out Joel Piroe’s shot.
KSUFHHUGORWGBIOSBFBGSLBGILSJBGWJLAFHAUHVJSHGLSJFBGSLJIBHGISBGIOSHBGFILSGBLHO pic.twitter.com/0yz85RG6Ym
— Leeds United (@LUFC) February 17, 2025
Leeds replaced both central midfielders, Tanaka and Ilia Gruev, with Joe Rothwell and Struijk with 20 minutes to go and the pair combined to raise the roof soon after.
Struijk outjumped the Black Cats’ defence to send a towering header from Rothwell’s superb free-kick beyond Patterson for a 78th-minute equaliser.
With the home fans baying for a winner, Leeds continued to swarm forward and Rothwell delivered another telling cross deep in added time for Struijk to secure his side’s 13th win in their last 14 home league matches.
