Leeds United 2 West Ham 1: Attacker shines and defensive rock strikes as Whites overcome injury blow — YEP 24/10/25
By Lee Sobot
Leeds United took on West Ham United in a huge Friday night
Premier League clash under the Elland Road lights.
Leeds United bounced back from back-to-back defeats to kick
clear of the Premier League dropzone with a very important 2-1 win against
Friday night’s visitors West Ham.
Leeds got off to a flying start by going ahead with just
three minutes on the clock through Brenden Aaronson on a night when the
American attacker excelled.
Ethan Ampadu surged forwards and Leeds worked the ball to
Jayden Bogle whose lovely cross from the right picked out Noah Okafor who
planted a firm header at goal.
Hammers keeper Alphonse Areola saved but the Frenchman could
only push the ball back into the area and Aaronson reacted quickest to convert
from close range.
West Ham already looked in disarray at the back but the
Irons were still threatening at the other end and keeper Lucas Perri made a big
double save to keep out a Jarrod Bowen overhead kick and then thwart Lucas
Paqueta's attempt to convert the rebound.
It was a big moment as three minutes later his side doubled
their lead in simple but clinical fashion as yet another Sean Longstaff corner
picked out defensive rock Joe Rodon who evaded non existent marking to head
home.
New West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo looked appalled and
Leeds quickly pressed for a third and threatened to get one on numerous
occasions.
West Ham, though, continued to create chances themselves and
the Irons looked to have pulled a goal back when Paqueta smashed home a fierce
finish in a crowded box that went in off the bar.
Paqueta, however, was eventually flagged offside and VAR
confirmed the decision after a lengthy delay due to the semi automated offside
system not working.
Both sides then had further chances in a never ending half
that went to 13 minutes of added time after two injury blows to West Ham's
Oliver Scarles and Leeds left back Gabi Gudmundsson.
Gudmundsson fell awkwardly on his back midway through the
half and tried to continue but the Swede was clearly struggling and eventually
replaced by summer signing James Justin in the 44th minute.
Boss Daniel Farke made another change during the break as
Okafor was replaced by Jack Harrison and his side again began the second half
of the back foot as West Ham looked for way back into the game.
With 55 minutes on the clock, Perri had to be alert to push
away a cross from El Hadji Malick Diouf that looked set to cause bother from
the left.
Leeds were playing on the counter and squandered a chance a
few minutes later as Aaronson broke away down the eight and crossed for Dominic
Calvert-Lewin who sent a scorpion kick attempt over the bar.
But Aaronson was then incredibly unlucky a few minutes later
to see his rising shot after a mazy run to the edge of the box deflected on to
the crossbar and behind for a corner which the Irons survived.
The pattern of the second half then continued as West Ham
pushed Leeds back and the Irons completely wasted a possible opening in the
72nd minute as substitute Mateus Fernandes sent a poor free-kick from the edge
of the box well wide.
Farke then looked to shore things up by bringing on Ilia
Gruev for Tanaka with 16 minutes left but another Irons chance went begging a
couple of minutes later as Aaron Wan-Bissaka got to the byline and sent in a
low cross which found Callum Wilson whose attempt at a flicked finish was saved
by Perri.
Leeds couldn’t get out but the Whites continued to held firm
and Aaronson was given a standing ovation as he was replaced by Dan James as
part of a double change with four minutes later, Lukas Nmecha also replacing
Calvert-Lewin who also left the field to warm applause.
The Whites were almost there but the Hammers finally pulled
a goal back in the 90th minute as a Jarrod Bowen cross picked out Fernandes
whose flicked header flew past Perri.
