On a bitterly cold Monday night at Elland Road, Leeds United substitute Pascal Struijk wrote his name into club folklore with a dramatic late brace to overturn a 1-0 deficit and secure a vital 2-1 victory over Sunderland. The three points send Daniel Farke’s side back to the top of the EFL Championship table, two points clear of Sheffield United and seven ahead of third-placed Burnley.
Meslier Tested Early as Sunderland Start Brightly
Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who has kept an impressive 15 clean sheets in 23 games since a costly error in the reverse fixture against Sunderland in October, was called into action early on. The Frenchman did well to parry Jobe Bellingham’s low effort before also denying Patrick Roberts on the rebound.
Sunderland, led by talented French midfielder Enzo Le Fée, continued to frustrate the hosts for much of the first half with their slick passing triangles. Leeds struggled to create clear-cut chances despite the lively Dan James causing problems with his pace and trickery.
Isidor Fires Sunderland in Front
Against the run of play, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime. A long ball from Dan Ballard released Wilson Isidor, who outmuscled Ethan Ampadu before firing a brilliant angled shot in off both posts for his 12th goal of the season.
“The former Zenit St Petersburg striker had a lot to do after springing the Leeds offside trap but Isidor’s 12th goal of the season suggested the Frenchman would not be out of place in the Premier League.”
– Louise Taylor, The Guardian
Leeds Turn Up the Heat in Search of Equalizer
Trailing at home for the first time in the league this season, Leeds emerged for the second half with renewed intensity. Spurred on by the Elland Road faithful, Daniel Farke’s men laid siege to the Sunderland goal but still struggled to create clear openings. Enzo Le Fée and Chris Rigg continued to impress for the Black Cats, who threatened a second on the counter.
With Leeds becoming increasingly desperate, Farke turned to his bench for inspiration. On came Pascal Struijk and Joe Rothwell, and within minutes the hosts were level. Struijk rose highest to power home a header from Rothwell’s pinpoint free-kick delivery, sending Elland Road into raptures.
Struijk the Late Hero as Leeds Snatch Victory
Buoyed by the equalizer, Leeds poured forward in search of a winner. With Sunderland pinned back and the clock ticking down, the stage was set for an unlikely hero to emerge. Cometh the hour, cometh the man – and that man was Pascal Struijk.
Deep into stoppage time, the Dutch defender popped up at the back post to steer home his second of the night after Sunderland failed to deal with another dangerous set-piece. Cue wild celebrations at Elland Road as Leeds completed a stunning turnaround to snatch a 2-1 victory at the death.
“If it was hardly poetic as substitute Pascal Struijk’s two goals helped return Leeds to the top of the Championship, two points ahead of Sheffield United, seven points clear of third-placed Burnley and ten in front of Régis Le Bris’s side.”
– Louise Taylor, The Guardian
Huge Win Sends Leeds Back to the Summit
The dramatic comeback win sees Leeds leapfrog Sheffield United and return to the top of the Championship table. With just 13 games remaining, Daniel Farke’s side are now in pole position to secure automatic promotion back to the Premier League.
However, there is still plenty of work to be done. Sheffield United and Burnley remain hot on their heels, while a resurgent Sunderland showed they have the quality to compete with the division’s best. Leeds will need to show the same spirit and determination that saw them overcome the Black Cats if they are to stay the course and seal a return to the top flight.
For now though, Leeds fans can savor a huge victory and the emergence of an unlikely new hero in Pascal Struijk. On a night when poetry came to West Yorkshire in the form of a new national center, it was the Dutch defender who wrote his own unforgettable verse in the history of this storied club.
