Leeds United 6-0 Stoke City: FLW report as Joel Piroe scores 4 to leave Leeds on the edge of promotion — Football League World 21/4/25
By Alfie Burns
Joel Piroe scored four goals as Leeds United crushed Stoke
City 6-0 at Elland Road. Leeds will be promoted this evening if Sheffield
United fail to beat Burnley at Turf Moor.
Leeds were 5-0 up inside 41 minutes, with Piroe's haul of
goals, including a 20-minute hat-trick, and Junior Firpo setting Elland Road up
for a potential promotion party in the coming hours.
Willy Gnonto added a sixth in a second-half that saw Leeds
hand a debut to 16-year-old Harry Gray.
At an ultra-charged Elland Road, there was no desire to take
the promotion race into the final two games of the season amongst the fans.
That was evidently the mindset of Daniel Farke's Leeds
players, too, as they blitzed Stoke in a stunning first-half.
The high-press and bravery of Leeds won them the ball deep
in Stoke territory on six minutes, with Willy Gnonto and Manor Solomon
combining to tee Joel Piroe up for the first of a 20-minute hat-trick.
Jayden Bogle - in a blistering display at right-back - was
next rewarded for squeezing high up the pitch, winning the ball off Stoke's
defence before squaring for Piroe to convert with ice in his veins.
Brenden Aaronson could've made it 3-0 before Piroe did,
forcing Viktor Johansson to save low to his right. Elland Road did not have to
wait for that third goal, though, as Gnonto forced the Stoke goalkeeper into
another save via an Aaronson deflection, leaving Piroe to convert the rebound
into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Bogle's punishment of Josh Wilson-Esbrand was brutal and,
after more superb wing-play, he crossed for Junior Firpo to just about finish
beyond Johansson.
Johansson denied Gnonto's powerful effort, but Leeds'
relentless first-half wasn't done yet. Bogle hit the post and, on the rebound,
Piroe squeezed his fourth goal of the afternoon over the line with the help of
Wouter Burger's outstretched leg.
Bae Jun-ho and Ali Al-Hamadi had chances either side of
half-time, as Mark Robins made a triple substitution during the interval.
Leeds had chances, too, as Solomon forced Johansson into
more work and Bogle smashed the ball into the South Stand.
A sixth goal came via Gnonto's header eventually, as he met
Solomon's hanging cross before Johansson could react, having shaken off Lewis
Baker's attempts to mark him with ease.
All eyes at Leeds are now on the Championship's 5:30
kick-off when Burnley meet Sheffield United, knowing anything but a Blades win
will confirm their place in the Premier League next season.