Leeds United 1 Brighton 0: Huge late twist sends Elland Road wild after Whites star is stretchered off — YEP 17/5/26

By Lee Sobot

An already safe Leeds United side took on highflying Brighton at Elland Road in their final home game of the Premier League season.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck an incredible 96th-minute winner to send Elland Road wild in sealing a 1-0 victory at home to Sunday’s final visitors of the Premier League season Brighton after a Whites star had been stretchered off.

Brighton made a bright start but Pascal Gross sent a header from a deep cross to the far post behind for a goal kick and a Carlos Baleba's curled attempt from the edge of the box was straight at Karl Darlow who saved.

But Leeds gradually began to cause problems themselves, Dan James often threatening from the right flank and seeing a very decent effort deflected just wide of the left hand post.

As the game hit a bit of a lull, former Leeds star Georginio Rutter was given a tremendous reception from the Kop and West Stand as he began his warm up, the Brighton attacker applauding his ex-club’s supporters.

There were also a noticeable amount of chants for Whites boss Daniel Farke after Friday’s pre-match press conference where he spoke very openly about his and the club’s future.

On the pitch, Brighton began to threaten again and Joel Veltman saw a firm shot blocked in a packed box but James again then went close for the hosts as his strong drive from a cleared Ethan Ampadu long throw was blocked Lewis Dunk just in front of the line.

Yet Brighton were then denied by the save of the half a few minutes before the interval as a swerving shot from Gross from the edge of the box was somehow kept out by a flying Darlow, the ball ending up over the bar as the visitors tried to scramble home the rebound.

Instead, the half ended with Leeds being denied as Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen pulled off a smart save to keep out what would have been a Dunk own goal after a clearance to Dominic Calvert-Lewin cross smashed against the Seagulls defender and flew towards the roof of the net.

There were no changes during the break, after which Brighton threatened six minutes after the restart as a cutback from Jack Hinshelwood teed up Danny Welbeck whose shot on the turn from the middle of the box was headed by Ampadu near the line.

A cross from the left flank from Yankuba Minteh was then sliced away by Bijol for a corner from which a Danny Welbeck header was deflected wide, Leeds surviving the second corner.

At the other end, Anton Stach fired a trademark decent effort just wide from the edge of the box.

As the game reached the hour mark, Aaronson needed treatment after going to ground and the American was one of three players taken off in a triple change that also saw Ao Tanaka and James make way as Willy Gnonto, Lukas Nmecha and Sean Longstaff were all introduced.

Gnonto’s name was quickly sung from the terraces and the Italian almost scored a few minutes later, Leeds winning the ball after risky Brighton play at the back and Gnonto smashing a fierce shot just wide from the edge of the area.

There was then concern a few moments later as Stach fell awkwardly and needed treatment, the German midfielder initially continuing but pulling up again a few minutes later and eventually stretchered off as Joel Piroe was brought on.

Leaving the field with his hands over his head on a stretcher, Stach received a standing ovation amid concerned looks in the 74th minute with the World Cup in mind.

A few minutes later, his replacement almost fired Leeds ahead, Nmecha working the ball to Piroe whose first time shot from the edge of the area flew just wide of the top left corner.

Brighton looked to respond but Rutter fired a fairly tame effort straight at Darlow with 80 minutes on the clock.

From a cross from the right, Hinshelwood also fired a shot straight at Darlow although Brighton looked to be offside in the build-up.

Firing straight at Darlow was becoming a theme, substitute Charalampos Kostoulas heading straight at the keeper from a free kick that was swung into the box.

But a fantastic tackle from Bijol was then needed to keep out the Seagulls in the 90th minute, Rutter playing in Diego Gomez whose fierce strike was blocked off for a corner.

Another Leeds change followed as Sam Byram was brought on to a fantastic reception and chants of his name as nine minutes of added time were announced.

More chants for Farke then followed, Brighton being frustrated in their hunt for a winner in their quest for European football.

But there was still time for one final huge twist which was provided by a brilliant striker play from Whites no 9 Calvert-Lewin to net his 14th goal of a stellar campaign.

Brighton had been playing risky passes at the back all afternoon and Jan Paul van Hecke’s attempt to pass back to keeper Verbruggen from Byram’s ball down the channel was seized upon by Calvert-Lewin.

The Whites striker was in like a flash and took one touch to take the ball around the onrushing Verbruggen before sliding home a cool finish from a tight angle which proved the game’s winning goal.