Leeds United edged a seven-goal thriller to boost their hopes of an immediate Premier League return on Monday, outlasting Middlesbrough for a huge 4-3 win to move second in the Championship table.
Having seen Leicester City beat West Bromwich Albion to tighten their grip on an automatic promotion spot on Saturday, Leeds had no margin for error and looked to be cruising to victory when Crysencio Summerville’s second goal of the game put them 4-2 up just after the hour mark.
However, Emmanuel Latte Lath’s inventive header saw him join Summerville on a brace and allowed Middlesbrough to lay siege to Illan Meslier’s penalty area in the dying stages.
Daniel Farke’s side dug deep, though, and clung on for three points which take them above Ipswich Town and into second, though the Tractor Boys have a game in hand with the promotion race set to go to the wire.
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Leeds fell behind in calamitous circumstances seven minutes in. Joe Rodon slid in with a last-ditch challenge on Latte Lath and both players collided with Meslier, allowing Isaiah Jones to tap into an empty net.
They needed just 11 minutes to turn the game around, though. Anfernee Dijksteel’s clumsy foul on Georginio Rutter allowed Summerville to confidently convert from the spot, then former Middlesbrough striker Patrick Bamford bundled Junior Firpo’s cross home with his midriff.
Leeds showed no signs of being able to shut up shop, however, and Latte Lath dragged Middlesbrough level on the half-hour mark, finding the top-left corner with a stunning strike from outside the area.
GET INNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!! #UTB pic.twitter.com/LESXNrrkdF
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) April 22, 2024
Farke’s men quickly pulled ahead again, as Summerville slipped Wilfried Gnonto through to stroke past Seny Dieng – replays showed the Italian was offside, leaving Leeds grateful for the absence of VAR.
Only a brilliant save from Dieng prevented Bamford from curling home a fourth before the interval, but he was helpless to prevent the outstanding Summerville from finding the top-right corner after stepping inside from the left wing after 61 minutes.
🎶 Ohhh his name’s Crysencioooo! 🎶 pic.twitter.com/AdydMlZlN9
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 22, 2024
Michael Carrick’s in-form hosts refused to go down without a fight and drew back within one with three minutes remaining, Latte Lath adjusting to lob Meslier with a sublime backwards header.
They then pumped cross after cross into Meslier’s area in search of a dramatic equaliser, but Leeds held firm for a victory which could be season-defining, ending a three-game winless run.
👊 HUGE THREE POINTS!! pic.twitter.com/L5BmzIKdhD
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 22, 2024
