Giuseppe Bellusci rescues point for Leeds against Sheffield Wednesday
Guardian 4/10/14Liz Byrnes at Elland Road
Darko Milanic is still searching for his first win as Leeds head coach after his side drew 1-1 with Sheffield Wednesday in a tetchy Yorkshire derby at Elland Road.
The Slovenian has now seen his west Yorkshire team draw two and lose one since taking over. It could have been worse, though, Leeds having to come from a goal down to equalise through Giuseppe Bellusci 11 minutes from time after Chris Maguire had given the Owls the lead in the 52nd minute.
Leeds would have been kicking themselves if they had not got anything out of the game given the number of goalscoring opportunities they created with Kieren Westwood kept busy in the Owls goal.
Mirco Antenucci was prominent while the muscular Souleymane Doukara was at times an immovable object, the pair linking up well as the Owls struggled with the speed of Leeds’ breaks.
Leeds had a great chance to go ahead in the 13th minute when Tomasso Bianchi’s pass found Alex Mowatt unmarked on the left of the area but Westwood raced off his line to block the shot.
Doukara fired across goal before Rodolph Austin came within inches of putting Leeds ahead, a fierce shot from distance forcing Westwood to tip over.
The Owls had a great chance when Maguire’s cross found Stevie May in the six-yard box but his low header drifted agonisingly wide.
Leeds started the second half where they had left off. Antenucci ran on to a Doukara through ball but his low shot was diverted by Westwood’s left leg.
After all Leeds’ attacking play, it was the Owls who went ahead seven minutes after the break, Maguire firing home a low shot from the right of the area across the keeper and into the bottom corner.
There was almost an instant response from Leeds but again Westwood stood firm, tipping Antenucci’s curling shot over.
May was inches wide after making space for himself in the Leeds area but the game had become feisty, intensity and tempers rising on and off the pitch.
There was little fluency but Leeds were rewarded for their attacking play when they levelled in the 79th minute, Bellusci slotting home Mowatt’s free-kick from the right.
