Leeds United 1 Manchester United 1: Elland Road wild scenes after attacker impact before Red Devils twist — YEP 4/1/26

By Lee Sobot

Leeds United took on arch rivals Manchester United at Elland Road in a Sunday lunchtime kick-off.

Leeds United sent Elland Road wild in Sunday’s Roses derby against arch rivals Manchester United before a sour twist led to an end-to-end game finishing all square at one apiece.

After a goalless first half, a clinical Brenden Aaronson finish sparked ecstatic scenes in the stands with 62 minutes on the clock but Ruben Amorim’s side drew level just three minutes later with an equally smart finish from Matheus Cunha.

Both sides then had chances to bag a winner but the Whites and Red Devils took a point apiece, Leeds extending their unbeaten run to seven games and kicking eight points clear of the dropzone after 20 games played.

Both teams had chances in a pretty even first half but Leeds came the closest to opening the scoring when a lovely flicked Dominic Calvert-Lewin header from an Anton Stach cross bounced back off the outside of the post.

Calvert-Lewin had earlier squandered a good opportunity when firing over the bar whilst under pressure inside the area after bright play from Aaronson and the lively Noah Okafor.

The Red Devils, though, had decent opportunities themselves and Lucas Perri produced a big save to tip a Leny Yoro header from a corner over the bar.

Several important tackles and clearances from an impressive Jaka Bijol were also important in keeping the visitors at bay, one clever header at an awkward angle preventing Benjamin Sesko from getting in one on one.

In the sole minute of stoppage time, the first half also ended with Patrick Dorgu firing wide from just outside the box from a Cunha lay-off.

Cunha did have the ball in the back of the net early in the half with an impressive finish from the edge of the box but the flag was already up for offside.

Another chance for Cunha was wasted as he volleyed a shot over the bar from the corner that followed after Perri's save to deny Yoro.

There were no changes during the break, following which Leeds made a bright start to the second half in pushing the Red Devils back, a long throw from Gabriel Gudmundsson just evading Calvert-Lewin in the box.

Another Gudmundsson long throw was then cleared back to the left back and fired in a low attempt from a tight angle that would have flown in at the near post but for keeper Senne Lammens tipping it wide.

Manchester United, though, countered rapidly from the corner for a move that ended with Manuel Ugarte firing wide from the edge of the box.

The game remained firmly in the balance but Leeds sent Elland Road wild by going ahead with 62 minutes on the clock as a clearance from Pascal Struijk turned into a perfect through ball for Aaronson.

The American then showed sharp reactions and pace to get in behind the Red Devils back line, carrying the ball into the box before applying a clinical finish.

The lead, however, lasted for just three minutes, substitute Joshua Zirkzee who had only just been brought on playing in Cunha who got in behind Bijol to then slide home a neat finish past the onrushing Perri.

Leeds responded well and Lammens produced another big save to tip an overhead kick from Okafor in a crowded box behind for a corner.

But Manchester United then squandered a glorious chance to go ahead through Sesko who planted a shot from close range the wrong side of the post after a perfect cross from the quickly influential Zirkzee.

Whites boss Daniel Farke had just taken off Okafor for Lukas Nmecha and then called for another double change as Willy Gnonto and Ao Tanaka were brought on to replace Ilia Gruev and Sebastiaan Bornauw.

Leeds went to a back four but the frame of the goal saved them shortly afterwards as a first-time Cunha shot from a Dorgu lay-off flew past Perri but clipped the outside of the post.

With three minutes left, Joel Piroe was called for in replacing Aaronson and Piroe had a chance with his very first touch, the Dutchman curling a shot over the bar from just inside the box after a sweeping counter.

There were then shouts for a Leeds penalty as a Gnonto cross was cleared for a corner by Cunha’s arm but the Red Devils survived and cleared the following corner.

A frantic finale of four minutes added time then saw both teams go for a winner but when Stach walloped a shot over from the edge of the box it proved the last chance of an entertaining 1-1 draw.