Mateo Joseph displays thoughtful Leeds United gesture after netting third hat-trick of the year - YEP 22/10/22
Leeds United's Under-21 side defeated Middlesbrough’s youngsters at the North East club’s Rockliffe training base on Saturday lunchtime
By Joe Donnohue
Leeds’ unbeaten run in Premier League 2 Division 2 continued
at the weekend as Michael Skubala’s youngsters came from behind to defeat
Middlesbrough 4-2. A hat-trick from star striker Mateo Joseph, as well as a
cultured effort from Sean McGurk, secured all three points for the young Whites
who went in at the break a goal down.
Italy international Willy Gnonto made another appearance for
the junior side as he awaits a first-team bow and was substituted at half-time,
along with Darko Gyabi and James Debayo as United trailed their hosts. Shortly
after the restart, Joseph pounced on Sonny Perkins’ rebounded effort to level
proceedings, before McGurk bent a second past Boro ‘keeper Nathan Fisher.
It was a case of ‘right place, right time’ for the young
Spaniard on Saturday lunchtime as substitute Joe Snowdon provided the
opportunity for Joseph to grab his second of the day after weaving through
bodies inside the Boro penalty area. 19-year-old Joseph obliged, firing
confidently beyond Fisher to open up a two-goal cushion heading into the
closing stages of the match.
Middlesbrough did manage to hit back through Bryant Bilongo,
setting up a nervy finish for Leeds’ comeback kids on Teesside, but it was
Joseph who eased the butterflies and completed his third hat-trick of the
season with another penalty box effort, set up by Alfie McCalmont.
Speaking at full-time after his side extended their lead in
top spot, head coach Skubala praised his players, in particular young Joseph
whose jubilant family members were among the spectators.
"Yeah, he's in good form. He still needs to keep
working hard,” Skubala said. “He's in a good place. He's scoring goals. He's a
good character, but he still needs to keep working hard, but his finishing
ability’s top drawer.”
"I enjoyed it. The team did well in the second half
[but] we have to fix some things in the first half,” Joseph said, clutching the
match-ball signed with congratulatory messages by his peers. “The teammates
helped me to score the hat-trick, so I'm very, very happy and grateful.”
