Leeds United 1 Crystal Palace 1: Injury blow and spate of yellows in niggly Eagles draw - YEP 22/7/22

Leeds United were denied victory in their final friendly in Australia against Crystal Palace as a rapid Eagles counter attack sealed a 1-1 draw at the Optus Stadium in Perth

By Lee Sobot

Jesse Marsch's side went ahead in the 55th minute through an ice-cool penalty from Rodrigo which was given after Crysencio Summerville was fouled.

Palace, though, equalised 12 minutes later through Jean-Philippe Mateta who was left with a tap in from a rapid Eagles break from a Whites corner.

Leeds were also hit with a fresh injury blow as the Whites lost summer signing Luis Sinisterra to what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

In a niggly and ill-tempered contest featuring several yellow cards, Adam Forshaw was also withdrawn after just 33 minutes.

Leeds began brightly and Patrick Bamford intercepted a back pass but then strayed offside before firing wide after Sinisterra attempted to play him through on goal.

At the other end, Odsonne Edouard scuffed an attempt at a spectacular acrobatic finish to a looping cross.

But United were then dealt a fresh injury blow in the 12th minute when summer signing Sinisterra went to ground off the ball, holding his left hamstring as he laid on the turf.

The winger was unable to continue and was replaced by Rodrigo in just the 14th minute.

The contest became increasingly scrappy and niggly as Diego Llorente, David Ozoh and Joachim Andersen were all booked.

Ozoh was carded for a high boot challenge on Adam Forshaw who took several hits and Forshaw was then taken off and replaced by Marc Roca in the 33rd minute.

Leeds then created their best opening so far in the 38th minute when Rodrigo raced through but the Spaniard decided against firing in a shot and his attempted cross sailed wide.

On the stroke of half-time, Bamford latched on to a backheel from Rodrigo before seeing his shot from the edge of the area deflected just over for a corner from which Rasmus Kristensen headed over.

Whites boss Jesse Marsch made five changes during the break as Leo Hjelde, Sam Greenwood, Dan James, Crysencio Summerville and Joe Gelhardt were all introduced for Pascal Struijk, Robin Koch, Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson and Patrick Bamford.

One of the substitutes, Summerville, then earned Leeds a 55th-minute penalty after a shove in the back from Joel Ward and Rodrigo slotted a cool penalty into the bottom left corner, sending 'keeper Vicente Guaita the wrong way.

Mateusz Klich and Darko Gyabi were then brought on as substitutes Roca and Rodrigo were replaced.

Leeds squandered a fine chance to double their advantage in the 66th minute when Greenwood played in Gelhardt whose attempted lob was tipped just wide by Guaita.

But less than a minute later Palace were level via a rapid counter from a Whites corner which led to Jordan Ayew racing clear down the left and squaring for Mateta who was left with a tap in.

The Whites had another opportunity to add to their tally in the 77th minute but Gelhardt strayed offside as he latched on to a Llorente through ball before firing wide.

A few minutes later, Klich fed Gelhardt whose vicious drive was heading for the far corner until Guaita tipped the attempt wide.

Even Whites boss Jesse Marsch then found himself booked and Palace squandered a glorious chance to bag a last-minute winner when Tyrick Mitchell somehow sent a free header into the ground and over from a few yards out.

Moments later, the Eagles failed to convert from a scramble in the Whites box.

Leeds United: Meslier, Kristensen, Llorente, Koch (Hjelde 46), Struijk (Summerville 46), Forshaw (Roca 33, Gyabi 61), Adams (Greenwood 46), Sinisterra (Rodrigo 14, Klich 61), Harrison, Aaronson (James 46), Bamford (Gelhardt 46). Subs not used: Klaesson, Christy, Davis, Gray.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Clyne, Andersen, Ward, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Rak-Sakyi, Ozoh, Edouard, Mateta, Ayew. Subs: Matthews, Rodney, Quick, O’Brien, Siddik, Adaramola, M. Boateng, Raymond, Phillips, Banks, Ebiowei, Street, Akinwale, Ola-Adebomi.

Attendance: 33,919.