Leeds United 0 Man City 1: Missed chances cost Whites as amazing run is ended followed by Farke dismissal — YEP 28/2/26
By Lee Sobot
Leeds United took on Manchester City under the Elland Road
lights.
A host of brilliant Leeds United chances ultimately counted
for nothing as title-chasing Manchester City ended the club’s brilliant record
under the Elland Road lights with a 1-0 success which ended with a Daniel Farke
red card.
Leeds made a superb start that matched the cauldron of noise
inside Elland Road and the Whites should have been ahead with just four minutes
on the clock.
Jayden Bogle's excellent pass down the right channel
released Brenden Aaronson who sent a perfect ball into the box for Dominic
Calvert-Lewin who was free six yards out but sent his first time shot wide of
the left hand post.
It was, though, just the start of a host of good chances for
Farke's Whites who were unable to take any of them, Calvert-Lewin brilliantly
turning Marc Guehi but firing just wide from a tight angle and Aaronson
prodding another shot wide from a Bogle cross.
The best chance, though, Calvert-Lewin's early one aside,
arrived when Anton Stach's pass sent Aaronson away one-on-one but the
American's heavy touch allowed Gianluigi Donnarumma to gather.
After initially offering nothing against United's ferocious
press, City gradually got going and Pep Guardiola's men squandered two good
chances themselves in the space of a minute.
In for the injured Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush worked
space to unleash a low drive from the left side of the Leeds box to which Karl
Darlow got down well to save.
Moments later, a cross from the right picked out Nico
O'Reilly who should have scored with a free header that he placed too near to
Darlow who saved.
A crucial touch from Pascal Struijk then snuffed out the
threat of Marmoush after brilliant turn and touch from O'Reilly to play him in
right in front of Darlow.
It all meant a very entertaining half looked set to end
goalless but that all changed as an amazing pass from Rayan Cherki carved Leeds
open in the second minute of stoppage time.
The City star took out three men with his sliding pass that
played Rayan Ait-Nouri in down the left channel and Ait-Nouri's sweeping cross
picked out Antoine Semenyo who arrived at pace and could not miss from a few
yards out.
There were no changes during the break, after which another
fine pass from Stach presented another good chance for Calvert-Lewin, the
striker picked out to the left of the box but his shot charged down by Matheus
Nunes to forcer a corner.
City, though, squandered a good opportunity themselves
moments later, a Nunes cross picking out Marmoush at the near post but the
striker flashing his first time effort wide.
As the game passed the hour mark, a Ruben Dias
cross-cum-shot saw Marmoush picked out again at the opposite side of the area
but the forward’s shot on the stretch was well wide.
City were well on top and went close again as Ait-Nouri
worked space for a shot on the edge of the box and smashed his effort just wide
of the top right corner.
Semenyo then worked space for a shot in the area that was
deflected wide for a corner from which Darlow produced a brilliant save to keep
out Marc Guehi’s header.
Having already brought on Lukas Nmecha for Aaronson, Farke
made a double change in the 75th minute as wingers Dan James and Willy Gnonto
replaced Bogle and Gruev, Leeds moving to a back four.
Gnonto was quickly involved, playing his part as Leeds sent
in a series of crosses that City managed to scramble clear as the noise levels
inside Elland Road increased in the hope of a comeback.
From the other side of the pitch, an excellent cross from
James was hacked behind for a corner which picked out late substitute Jaka
Bijol but the Slovenian’s towering header was sent wide.
It proved the last real chance of the game, Leeds going hell
for leather in the closing stages but frustrated as big decisions went against
them, the Whites denied a penalty for a handball in a packed box,
City ultimately saw out six minutes of added time although
the drama was still not done with, Whites boss Farke shown a red card moments
after the full-time whistle.
