Leeds United 1 Sunderland 0: Whites get first pre-season win as Tarik Muharemovic shines on debut — YEP 31/7/26

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By Kyle Newbould

Leeds United enjoyed a first win of their pre-season overnight after beating Sunderland 1-0 in New Jersey overnight. Lukas Nmecha scored the game’s only goal early in the first-half as debutant Tarik Muharemovic impressed.

Farke edged towards a stronger line-up compared to that which started last weekend’s 3-2 against Wrexham. Harry Wilson was handed a first start while Muharemovic made his unofficial debut, with Callum Mills the only academy prospect in the XI.

Leeds went ahead in rather strange circumstances after nine minutes through Nmecha’s long-range effort. The striker took advantage of Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellborg’s poor positioning to find the bottom corner from all of 40 yards, after Ao Tanaka had dispossessed Enzo Le Fee.

New signing Muharemovic impressed early doors, showing recovery pace to snuff out a threatening ball in behind and punching passes through the lines. Sunderland had their first big chance midway through the first-half when Reinildo got behind Jayden Bogle, but his cross was mis-kicked by Brian Brobbey and Le Fee scuffed a follow-up effort.

Tempers threatened to flare a little before the break when Joe Rodon cut out a loose ball under a strong challenge from Brian Brobbey. But it quickly calmed and Leeds finished the first-half strongly, albeit without that second goal.

Farke made six changes at half-time with James Justin, Ethan Ampadu, Anton Stach, Willy Gnonto, Daniel James and Joel Piroe replacing Rodon, Tanaka, Sean Longstaff, Wilson, Mills and Nmecha. Sunderland had the first second-half chance but substitute striker Timur Tutierov headed wide on 53 minutes.

Sunderland then made a raft of changes around the hour mark which contributed to the flow of the game breaking up. James was played into a good position by a great Gabriel Gudmundsson backheel but the winger’s cross found neither Piroe nor Gnonto in the box.

Youngsters Jayden Lienou, Alfie Cresswell and Jayden Lienou were introduced in place of Gudmundsson, Bornauw and Bogle. James then had a good chance to score himself on 78 minutes after a quick pass from Ampadu and a great flick from Piroe, but the winger’s effort was straight at goalkeeper Ellborg, who palmed it clear.

Cairns was forced into his first save of the night in the 85th minute, getting down well to his left to claim a curling effort from 20 yards just before Charlie Crew replaced the impressive Muharemovic. In the end, the Whites defended well to keep their clean sheet and enjoy a first win of pre-season.

Leeds round off their pre-season tour of the US against Liverpool in Chicago on Sunday night. The Whites then return home for friendlies with RB Leipzig and FC Augsburg, either side of a Dublin clash against Manchester United.

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