Leedsunited.com 23/8/08
UNITED PAY PENALTY
YEOVIL TOWN 1 (Owusu 62 pen), UNITED 1 (Becchio 1)
United boss Gary McAllister made one change to his starting line-up for the trip to Yeovil Town with striker Luciano Becchio making his full league debut in place of Enoch Showunmi, who started on the bench.
And the decision paid immediate dividends with the Argentinian repaying the manager just 25 seconds into the game.
Rui Marques lifted the ball over the top, Becchio capitalised on indecision at the back, and managed to steer the ball past Yeovil goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to give United a quick-fire lead.
It was a great start for United - it was the quickest goal since Jermaine Wright's 11-second goal against Burnley in November 2004 - and Jermaine Beckford went close to furthering the advantage inside six minutes when he lifted a shot over the top following good work on the edge of the box by Jonny Howson.
Beckford was causing problems for Yeovil and when he won a second successive free-kick after nine minutes, Alan Sheehan shaved the bar with a curling strike.
Beckford threatened again on 18 minutes when he sent a shot skidding just wide of the upright after some good work by Becchio.
While United dominated the opening half-hour, there were also plenty of hefty challenges flying about. Yeovil's Danny Schofield limped out of the game, Becchio was flattened, and Aidan Downes was booked for a foul on Howson. Robert Snodgrass also saw yellow after going to ground.
Five minutes before the interval there was another flare-up, Becchio earning himself a booking for raising his foot in a challenge.
Yeovil were forced into making a second substitution for injury early in the second period when Gary Roberts replaced Downes.
The home side started the second half brighter, and Paul Warne almost produced an equaliser on 53 minutes when his close range volley was somehow deflected to safety. He also rattled a shot against the body of Paul Huntington after Casper Ankergren failed to claim the corner kick.
But it was United who almost went further in front shortly before the hour-mark. Snodgrass tried his luck from 25 yards and Begovic, who failed to hold his shot, fumbling the ball, could only watch as the ball bounced wide of the post.
Disaster struck for United on 61 minutes, though, when Huntington was adjudged to have pushed Warne and the hosts were awarded a penalty. Ankergren got down well to save Owusu's initial shot, but the Yeovil sub converted at the second attempt.
The penalty decision angered the United players and Beckford's name was added to the referee's notebook for protesting as the game was about to re-start.
The goal clearly gave the hosts a lift, and it took a desperate clearance from Snodgrass to break down a Yeovil attack moments after the equaliser.
Owusu was then guilty of wasting a good opportunity, firing over the bar after a good cross from the left from Nathan Jones.
Yeovil were enjoying their best spell of the game and Gavin Tomlin had Ankergren back-tracking furiously when he tried a chip from distance.
With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, McAllister made a double substitution, introducing Showunmi and Jonathan Douglas in place of Robinson and Snodgrass. The double change brought a change of shape with United moving to a 4-3-3- system.
And it was Leeds who threatened next when Beckford sent an angled shot across the face of goal in the 78th minute after working himself a decent opening.
Becchio also tested Begovic with a shot from outside of the area and as the contest entered the final 10 minutes the spoils were still up for grabs.
Yeovil threatened again when Warne got the better of Frazer Richardson, and Sheehan got a decisive touch on his cross-cum-shot to ensure a corner.
With four minutes remaining, McAllister made his final change, introducing Fabian Delph in place of Howson.
Moments later, the United players and fans were angered when a Leeds attack was halted - Becchio was in a good position down the right - due to the appearance of a second ball in the Yeovil area.
Four minutes of stoppage time were added on, and it was Sheehan again who proved the final act of defence after Tomlin latched onto a long ball over the top and rounded the advancing Ankergren.
And that proved the final opportunity for either side as honours ended even.
Yorkshire Evening Post 23/8/08
Yeovil Town 1 Leeds United 1
A controversial second-half penalty saw Leeds United held to a 1-1 draw during a frustrating afternoon at Huish Park.
Yeovil Town substitute Lloyd Owusu converted the rebound from his own spot-kick on 61 minutes to cancel out an early effort from Luciano Becchio and deny Leeds victory in Somerset.
Yeovil were awarded a penalty following Paul Huntington's innocuous push on Paul Warne, and although Casper Ankergren parried Owusu's initial effort, the forward was first to the rebound and could not miss an empty net.
The stalemate was a demoralising outcome for Gary McAllister's players, who had held the lead since the first minute.
Becchio struck after just 25 seconds of his full league debut, drilling a low shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after collecting a long pass from Rui Marques and finding Yeovil's defence out of position.
Jermaine Beckford and Alan Sheehan also went close during a first half which Leeds dominated, but Yeovil should have equalised at the start of the second period when Warne's volley from point-blank range deflected wide, and Owusu's goal earned the hosts a point.
UNITED PAY PENALTY
YEOVIL TOWN 1 (Owusu 62 pen), UNITED 1 (Becchio 1)
United boss Gary McAllister made one change to his starting line-up for the trip to Yeovil Town with striker Luciano Becchio making his full league debut in place of Enoch Showunmi, who started on the bench.
And the decision paid immediate dividends with the Argentinian repaying the manager just 25 seconds into the game.
Rui Marques lifted the ball over the top, Becchio capitalised on indecision at the back, and managed to steer the ball past Yeovil goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to give United a quick-fire lead.
It was a great start for United - it was the quickest goal since Jermaine Wright's 11-second goal against Burnley in November 2004 - and Jermaine Beckford went close to furthering the advantage inside six minutes when he lifted a shot over the top following good work on the edge of the box by Jonny Howson.
Beckford was causing problems for Yeovil and when he won a second successive free-kick after nine minutes, Alan Sheehan shaved the bar with a curling strike.
Beckford threatened again on 18 minutes when he sent a shot skidding just wide of the upright after some good work by Becchio.
While United dominated the opening half-hour, there were also plenty of hefty challenges flying about. Yeovil's Danny Schofield limped out of the game, Becchio was flattened, and Aidan Downes was booked for a foul on Howson. Robert Snodgrass also saw yellow after going to ground.
Five minutes before the interval there was another flare-up, Becchio earning himself a booking for raising his foot in a challenge.
Yeovil were forced into making a second substitution for injury early in the second period when Gary Roberts replaced Downes.
The home side started the second half brighter, and Paul Warne almost produced an equaliser on 53 minutes when his close range volley was somehow deflected to safety. He also rattled a shot against the body of Paul Huntington after Casper Ankergren failed to claim the corner kick.
But it was United who almost went further in front shortly before the hour-mark. Snodgrass tried his luck from 25 yards and Begovic, who failed to hold his shot, fumbling the ball, could only watch as the ball bounced wide of the post.
Disaster struck for United on 61 minutes, though, when Huntington was adjudged to have pushed Warne and the hosts were awarded a penalty. Ankergren got down well to save Owusu's initial shot, but the Yeovil sub converted at the second attempt.
The penalty decision angered the United players and Beckford's name was added to the referee's notebook for protesting as the game was about to re-start.
The goal clearly gave the hosts a lift, and it took a desperate clearance from Snodgrass to break down a Yeovil attack moments after the equaliser.
Owusu was then guilty of wasting a good opportunity, firing over the bar after a good cross from the left from Nathan Jones.
Yeovil were enjoying their best spell of the game and Gavin Tomlin had Ankergren back-tracking furiously when he tried a chip from distance.
With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, McAllister made a double substitution, introducing Showunmi and Jonathan Douglas in place of Robinson and Snodgrass. The double change brought a change of shape with United moving to a 4-3-3- system.
And it was Leeds who threatened next when Beckford sent an angled shot across the face of goal in the 78th minute after working himself a decent opening.
Becchio also tested Begovic with a shot from outside of the area and as the contest entered the final 10 minutes the spoils were still up for grabs.
Yeovil threatened again when Warne got the better of Frazer Richardson, and Sheehan got a decisive touch on his cross-cum-shot to ensure a corner.
With four minutes remaining, McAllister made his final change, introducing Fabian Delph in place of Howson.
Moments later, the United players and fans were angered when a Leeds attack was halted - Becchio was in a good position down the right - due to the appearance of a second ball in the Yeovil area.
Four minutes of stoppage time were added on, and it was Sheehan again who proved the final act of defence after Tomlin latched onto a long ball over the top and rounded the advancing Ankergren.
And that proved the final opportunity for either side as honours ended even.
Yorkshire Evening Post 23/8/08
Yeovil Town 1 Leeds United 1
A controversial second-half penalty saw Leeds United held to a 1-1 draw during a frustrating afternoon at Huish Park.
Yeovil Town substitute Lloyd Owusu converted the rebound from his own spot-kick on 61 minutes to cancel out an early effort from Luciano Becchio and deny Leeds victory in Somerset.
Yeovil were awarded a penalty following Paul Huntington's innocuous push on Paul Warne, and although Casper Ankergren parried Owusu's initial effort, the forward was first to the rebound and could not miss an empty net.
The stalemate was a demoralising outcome for Gary McAllister's players, who had held the lead since the first minute.
Becchio struck after just 25 seconds of his full league debut, drilling a low shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after collecting a long pass from Rui Marques and finding Yeovil's defence out of position.
Jermaine Beckford and Alan Sheehan also went close during a first half which Leeds dominated, but Yeovil should have equalised at the start of the second period when Warne's volley from point-blank range deflected wide, and Owusu's goal earned the hosts a point.