Bramall Lane witnessed Leeds United storm from a goal down to beat Sheffield United 3-1 and move five points clear at the top of the Championship table. Leeds trailed through Illan Meslier's own goal on a difficult night for the Frenchman, with Chris Wilder overseeing a near-perfect 45 minutes. Junior Firpo hauled Leeds level with a powerful header in the second half, before Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe struck in the space of two late minutes to win the game and undo Sheffield United.
It was a tough opening 20 minutes for Leeds and their goalkeeper, Illan Meslier. The Frenchman flapped at a Sydie Peck corner and was relying on Ilia Gruev to clear the bouncing ball off the line. After more shaky moments dealing with deliveries and remaining unconvincing with the ball at his feet, Meslier had a hand in Sheffield United's opener. Callum O'Hare headed a Ben Brereton Diaz cross onto the woodwork, before Tyrese Campbell somehow diverted the rebound onto the post, and Meslier spilled the ball when trying to clear.
Junior Firpo bailed Leeds out of more trouble, intercepting another dangerous cross, but Daniel Farke's side did carry threat as they moved forward. They pressed Sheffield's defense with Dan James and Manor Solomon, who created opportunities but couldn’t find the net. Several penalty appeals were waved away as Leeds struggled to convert pressure.
Leeds wouldn't have to wait long to break the resilience of Wilder's side, drawing level through Firpo's header as he met James' cross emphatically. The momentum shifted as Leeds began to dominate proceedings, and Meslier reacted quickly to deny Burrows' shot, showing signs of recovering from his earlier blunders.
After Firpo's equalizer, Leeds kept the pressure on, and Leeds' fans began to sense victory. Firpo flicked on Joe Rothwell's corner, and Tanaka was free at the back post to head Leeds ahead with just minutes remaining. Piroe sealed the game with a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box just moments later, sending the away end at Bramall Lane wild.
“After dropping behind early, we showed our character and determination to come back and win,” said Farke after the match. His players showed remarkable resilience, enhancing their belief and collective spirit as they pushed for promotion.
“Leeds were simply too strong for us when it mattered most,” lamented Wilder, reflecting on how his side struggled to maintain the lead they held for nearly 70 minutes.
The atmosphere was electric as the Leeds supporters celebrated yet another dramatic comeback. It mirrored their previous match against Sunderland, where they had pulled off a similar feat. Fans on social media buzzed with excitement, with BBC reporter Ian Woodcock remarking, “It’s happened again! Bedlam in the Leeds end. Some Blades fans start to head for the exits. Remarkable!”
Leeds United's performance under pressure illustrated their growing prowess, leaving them now unbeaten over their last 16 matches. The victory solidified their position atop the Championship table with 75 points, five points clear of second-place Sheffield United.
This latest win has put Leeds on course for what many hope will be another successful return to the Premier League. The squad, under Farke's guidance, is capitalizing on its opportunities and demonstrating significant growth throughout the season. Leeds will now capitalize on this momentum as they look to build on their impressive form and maintain their lead heading toward the promotion finish line.