Bournemouth 2 Leeds United 2: Unlikely hero after injury blow as Whites reach magic marker in dramatic ending — YEP 22/4/26
By Lee Sobot
Leeds United travelled to in-form Bournemouth in their
ongoing quest for Premier League survival.
Sean Longstaff came off the Leeds United bench to thump home
a 97th-minute equaliser and give Leeds United a 2-2 draw at Wednesday’s Premier
League hosts Bournemouth to put Daniel Farke’s Whites on to the magic 40-point
marker.
Bournemouth had most of the possession in a pretty
uneventful first half which was very short on chances although a fine save from
Karl Darlow was needed to keep the score goalless as he kept out a low shot
from Alex Scott back across goal with his feet.
Marcus Tavernier fired just wide with a follow up attempt
from an Adrien Truffert cross and United's best moment came in first half
stoppage time when Dominic Calvert-Lewin played in Gabi Gudmundsson on the
overlap, the Swede's cross almost picking out Brenden Aaronson in the middle.
Aaronson had earlier been responsible for United's only shot
on target of the half, the American turning well and firing in a low effort
which Djordje Petrovic was able to save.
At the other end, a very solid Darlow was equal to
everything that Bournemouth threw at him although the Cherries weren't far away
in the early stages as Evanilson fired just wide with an acrobatic volley from
a tight angle.
Boss Daniel Farke made a change during the break as Jayden
Bogle was withdrawn and replaced by Joe Rodon which meant James Justin moving
to right back.
It later emerged that Bogle had suffered a right foot
injury.
Bournemouth went close a few minutes after the restart as a
Pascal Struijk's attempt to head clear a free kick flew just wide for a corner
from which Alex Scott skied a shot over the bar.
Bournemouth then saw claims for a penalty waved away as
David Brooks went down in the box under pressure from Gabi Gudmundsson as he
chased a Tavernier cross but referee Michael Salisbury looked to make the
correct call in not awarding a foul.
The Cherries were knocking on the door and a good block from
Pascal Struijk forced a shot from Ryan Christie behind for a corner.
Moments later, a crucial block from Gudmundsson stopped a
Tavernier cross from picking out Evanilson but Bournemouth were now dominating
and the Cherries went ahead on the hour mark as Marcos Senesi through ball
played in Junior Kroupi whose shot deflected off Rodon to beat Darlow.
Leeds had offered very little but a gift almost let them in
for an equaliser, James Hill dallying on the ball and closed down by Noah
Okafor who raced in on goal but saw his shot dinked on to the post.
Strong response to falling behind
The Whites, though, had produced a good response and Leeds
drew level in the 68th minute as Bournemouth failed to clear an Ethan Ampadu
long throw, the ball eventually falling to substitute Willy Gnonto whose low
strike hit Hill's heel before flying in for an own goal.
Leeds now had a bit of momentum but Bournemouth soon began
turning the screw again, Darlow producing a good save to deny Rayan and Struijk
then saving the day with a clearance near his line after Evanilson had been
played in behind Rodon.
But another Cherries goal looked likely and it arrived in
the 85th minute as cross from ex-Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams picked out Rayan
who swept home a clinical finish from the middle of the box.
It looked set to prove the winning goal but Leeds and
substitute Longstaff had other ideas, the midfielder brought on from the bench
and popping up to thump home a powerful volley from a cleared Ethan Ampadu long
throw in the 97th minute.
