Report: Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Leeds United — Leedsunited.com 15/3/25
Whites take a point from Loftus Road.
Leeds United travelled away from home to face Queens Park
Rangers in the Sky Bet Championship, taking a point from Loftus Road having
recovered from two-goals down.
After the opening period had seen few chances, it was the
home side who went into the lead, capitalising on a mistake from the Whites.
Koki Saito was the beneficiary of a loose ball in the box
and struck first time, curling beyond Illan Meslier into the top corner of the
net.
QPR would get a second on the half-hour mark in the game.
Paul Smyth had space on the right wing and crossed into the box for Steve Cook
to connect and head the ball into the net, going in off the post.
Five minutes before the break, the Whites put a clever move
together with one-touch football which would see them reduce the deficit.
Ao Tanaka pushed forward and exchanged passes around the
area with Joel Piroe. The striker found Manor Solomon out wide, who crossed low
into the middle for Junior Firpo to turn home at close range.
That was to be that before the interval, as the home side
returned to their dressing room with a one-goal advantage.
HALF TIME: Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Leeds United
During the break, the Whites made a change. Willy Gnonto
came on for the second half in place of Brenden Aaronson, as Farke’s side
searched for a way back onto level terms.
The Italian made an instant impact, playing a key part in
the move that would see his side equalise within five minutes of the restart.
Gnonto played Dan James in behind the R’s defence and the
winger crossed into the box for Solomon, who had his effort saved, but
following in on the rebound Jayden Bogle found the bottom corner to level the
scores!
Back down the other end, Meslier was then quickly called
into action. A long throw landed kindly for Cook in the box and he shot low,
only to see the ‘keeper save well.
The Whites had pushed forward regularly in search of a
winner, but a number of QPR fouls would look to stop them. One of them, late
on, saw first-half scorer Saito shown a straight red card for a late lunge on
James to reduce the hosts to 10 players.
Despite their best efforts and a number of set-play
opportunities, Leeds had to settle for a point in West London, after coming
back from two goals behind.