Leeds United scored three goals in the final minute to complete a stunning comeback and hold off Championship leaders Leicester for their ninth consecutive league win.
The Foxes looked set to win, but substitute Connor Roberts equalized in the 80th minute, and moments later teenager Archie Gray beat Mads Hermansen at the near post with a deflected shot. It caused a pandemonium.
Leicester's lack of discipline saw Dan James' 20-yard free-kick deflected off Patrick Bamford in stoppage time, leaving second-placed Leeds within six points of Leicester.
In an action-packed encounter at Elland Road, the visitors took a deserved lead when Wout Feys put the final touch on Gray's shot and headed home free from a corner kick.
Enzo Maresca's side started the second half much like the first, with Steffy Mavididi drawing a good save from Illan Meslier in the Leeds goal, but Jannik Westergoer's towering header hit the crossbar and Patson Daka's goal was mistakenly ruled out for offside.
Daka was onside when Vestergaard touched the ball and Leeds' Georginio Rutter deflected the rebound into Leicester's path before firing a shot into the goal.
The Zambian striker missed a great chance to make it 2-0 by firing a shot wide of the target while playing on goal, but the mistake proved very costly as the Foxes fell to a second successive defeat. It has been found.
Leeds breathe new life into the title race
For Leeds, this most unlikely comeback will give Leeds fresh hope of chasing down the Foxes for the Championship title, with both teams aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League.
Daniel Farke has warned his team not to get “over-motivated” ahead of the match, while Foxes counterpart Maresca said the game would be played at home given the difference to Leicester. He said it was a “huge” game for the team.
Joel Pillow squandered a golden chance to give the hosts an early advantage before the visitors joined the competition and took the lead.
Fayez became the second player to score a league goal against Los Blancos in 2024 when he headed home after Daka flicked on a corner kick from Keenan Dewsbury-Hall.
After that, the first half saw opportunities come and go for both teams. Immediately after Faes' goal, Piroué headed wide, while Vestergaard made a perfectly timed final tackle to thwart the busy Chrisencio Somerville.
Leeds struggled for fluency after the break, with Daka and Mavididi missing clear chances on the counter, but Farke's side conjured a stunning comeback almost out of nowhere.
First Burnley loanee Roberts scored after Westergaard unsuccessfully tried to cut in a low cross from Rutter.
It was 2-1 three minutes later, but it remains to be seen whether the 17-year-old Gray scored his first goal as a senior, but the shot was deflected several times and could end up being an own goal for Fais. there were. .
Another fortuitous deviation, with James taking a strike from fellow substitute Bamford with seconds remaining, sealed Leeds' 2,000th win in their 104-year history, leaving Leicester stunned at a frenzied Elland Road side.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Leeds:
“It was a great night for everyone involved at Leeds United. There are a lot of record-breaking statistics but the feeling is more important.
“It shows how much it meant to everyone and I’m glad that our supporters enjoyed this moment with our fans.”
“In the first half we created better chances and I think we were a little bit lucky that they were in the lead in the first half. Then they had chances to counter, so we made it 2-0 after that. I was a little lucky that I wasn't on the back foot.Attack.
“In the last 15 to 20 minutes, we fought back desperately. Every goal was born of determination and fighting spirit.
“It was a close game, but judging from the 90 minutes, I think it was a well-deserved victory.”
lineup
leeds
formation 4-2-3-1
- 1meslierBooked in 88 minutes
- twenty twogray
- 14RodonI made a reservation in 45 minutes.
- FourAmpaduBooked in 52 minutes
- 3FirpoReplacementRobertsin 73 minutesminutesBooked in 87 minutes
- 44Gruev
- 8KamalaI made a reservation in 75 minutes.
- 29GnontReplacementjamesin 64 minutesminutes
- twenty fourRutter
- TensomervilleReplacementanthonyin 90+1'minutes
- 7piroeReplacementbanfordin 65 minutesminutes
substitute
- Fivecreswell
- 6cooper
- 9banford
- 12anthony
- 13watercress
- 17shackleton
- 20james
- 33Roberts
- 49joseph
leicester
formation 4-2-3-1
- 30hermansen
- 17chowdhury
- 3Fes
- twenty threeVestergoatI made a reservation in 90 minutes.
- 2justin
- twenty oneRicardo PereiraI made a reservation for 19 minutes.
- 8wink
- TenmavididiReplacementMakateain 78 minutesminutes
- twenty twoDewsbury Hall
- 18Fatau
- 20DakaReplacementCannonin 78 minutesminutes
substitute
- Fourcody
- Fivedoyle
- 11albrighton
- 26Prato
- 28Cannon
- 29Akgun
- 35Makatea
- 41stralczyk
- 45nelson
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 36,954
live text
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Game over, Leeds United 3, Leicester City 1.
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End of the second half, Leeds United 3, Leicester City 1.
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Jadon Anthony (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the left.
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Foul by Abdul Fataw (Leicester City).
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Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) wins a free kick in defence.
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Foul by Hamza Chaudhry (Leicester City).
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goal! Leeds United 3, Leicester City 1. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) fired a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom right corner. Daniel James provided an assist on the set piece.
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Attempt blocked. Daniel James (Leeds United) had his right-footed shot from outside the box but it was blocked.
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Jannik Westergaard (Leicester City) was shown a yellow card for a serious foul.
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Georginio Rutter (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jannik Westergaard (Leicester City).
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Foul by Archie Gray (Leeds United).
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Abdul Fattaw (Leicester City) wins a free kick inside the defence.
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Substitute, Leeds United. Jadon Anthony replaces Crisencio Somerville.
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Foul by Georginio Rutter (Leeds United).
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Keenan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City) wins a free kick inside the defence.
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Attempt blocked. Connor Roberts (Leeds United) took a right-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it was blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Crisencio Somerville (Leeds United)'s right-footed shot from the center of the box was blocked. Supported by Glen Kamara.
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Ilan Meslier (Leeds United) is shown a yellow card.
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Attempt failed. Wout Faes (Leicester City) took a header from the center of the box, but it went wide to the left of the target. Keenan Dewsbury-Hall assists a cross from a set-piece situation.