Whites dismantle Magpies in memorable Elland Road encounter — Leedsunited.com 14/9/26
Report: Leeds United 4-1 Newcastle United.
Leeds United continued their fantastic start to the new
Premier League campaign with an emphatic dispatching of Newcastle United,
scoring four goals to make it four unbeaten in the top-flight.
A whirlwind first half saw Daniel Farke’s side take a 3-0
lead into the break before Noah Okafor added further gloss to the scoreline on
the hour mark with a thunderous half volley!
With Elland Road in fine voice under the lights, the hosts
had penalty appeals turned away in the opening moments after the ball struck a
Matias Fernandez-Pardo’s hand inside the area but neither Michael Salisbury nor
the VAR gave the spot kick.
As United searched for an opener, skipper Ethan Ampadu
arrowed a powerful drive towards the top corner from distance but the ball
cannoned off Dominic Calvert-Lewin and away from danger before it could test
Lukás Hornícek in the Magpies’ goal.
The keeper then made a fine intervention to deny Leeds the
opener. James Justin had done brilliantly to keep a deep cross alive which
Jayden Bogle then inventively flicked on target, forcing the stopper into a
diving save low to his right.
With 25 minutes on the clock, a corner kick was only half
cleared to the lively Bogle who lashed a rasping half volley on target.
Hornícek managed to parry the ball away but the respite would only prove
temporary…
Okafor led a blistering break down the left flank and picked
out the run of Ao Tanaka. The Japanese international drilled a powerful effort
that deflected off Lewis Miley, wrongfooted Hornícek and nestled in the far
corner!
If there was any doubt as to who would be credited with the
first, there looked to be none just minutes later as the Whites grabbed a
second. Justin hooked a dangerous delivery into the middle which Dominic
Calvert-Lewin towered to meet and headed into the corner. But on closer
inspection, the ball brushed off Bogle before hitting the back of the net!
Two would have become three if not for a superb reaction
save by the Newcastle keeper, smothering our number 9’s close range effort.
Down the other end, Tarik Muharemović then was on hand to block a Harvey Barnes
attempt.
On the stroke of half-time, the third did arrive and this
time Calvert-Lewin would not be denied! Bogle’s cross-field pass was flicked on
by Anton Stach into the path of the forward who turned beyond his marker and
showed great composure to bundle home!
HALF TIME: Leeds United 3-0 Newcastle United
Farke’s side emerged from the break unchanged and were
immediately on the front foot as they hunted for a fourth. Full-back Gabriel
Gudmundsson raced down the left and his cross nearly caught out Hornícek at the
back post but the ball sailed narrowly over the upright.
Stach then read play and stole possession inside the
visitors’ penalty area and chipped the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper
though the ball trickled just beyond the post and behind.
The Toon’s defence was breached once more on the hour mark
and in style through Okafor! A set-piece was headed to the edge of the area
where the Swiss forward lurked, fizzing an emphatic strike into the corner!
Elland Road was delirious and chants of ‘United are back’ were deafening inside
the famous old ground.
First activity from the dugout saw Brenden Aaronson and
Harry Wilson introduced into the action, replacing Tanaka and Okafor
respectively. Melvin Bard also made his Elland Road debut, switching for
Gudmundsson in defence.
Despite the score, Newcastle enjoyed a spell of possession
in the Whites’ half and went close when Joe Willock looped a high effort onto
the top of the crossbar and onto the roof of the net. The midfielder then
forced a necessary intervention from the relatively untested James Trafford.
With just over 10 minutes of normal time remaining, England
international Calvert-Lewin made way for Lukas Nmecha, receiving a much
deserved standing ovation from the United faithful.
On the hunt for a fifth, the newly introduced Nmecha almost
got on the end of fellow substitute Daniel James' lifted cross in front of
goal, stretching but to no avail, before the visitors managed a late
consolation via Bazoumana Touré.
Then came a deep Wilson free kick that was headed back
across the face of goal by an unmarked Nico Elvedi, but with nobody to convert,
the visitors were grateful to settle for a goal kick.
With James driving towards goal before firing a strike over
the bar, action on Monday night came to an end, Salisbury sounding the full
time whistle shortly after.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 4-1 Newcastle United
