MX23RW : Saturday, December 29 10:43:30
Dec 23, 2018 at 1.30pm UK at ​Villa Park (Birmingham)
Aston Villa
2-3
LeedsLeeds United
Abraham (5'), Hourihane (17')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Clarke (56'), Jansson (61'), Roofe (90')

Roofe strikes in stoppage time to sink Villa and send Leeds back to the top

Roofe strikes in stoppage time to sink Villa and send Leeds back to the top
© Reuters
The visitors came from two goals down to clinch a thrilling victory.

Kemar Roofe struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to complete a dramatic comeback and send Leeds back to the top of the Championship with a 3-2 win at Aston Villa.

Roofe's goal crowned a second-half fightback from two goals down by the visitors, who moved a point ahead of Norwich at the top of the table.

Villa got off to a flying start, Tammy Abraham scoring his ninth goal in his last seven games after five minutes and Conor Hourihane adding a brilliant second in the 17th minute. They might even have scored more in a one-sided first half.

Instead, the hosts were stunned in the second as quick-fire goals from Jack Clarke and Pontus Jansson brought Leeds level before Roofe's slick finish at the death sealed a thrilling victory.

Injury-hit Leeds, who had only conceded one goal in winning their previous five games, were soon on the back foot and found themselves a goal down early on.

The in-form Abraham collected a short pass from John McGinn and slipped the ball past Bailey Peacock-Farrell from close
range to finish off a neat passing move involving Jonathan Kodjia and Hourihane.

Villa were happy to get stuck in too, though, and Yannick Bolasie was booked for a thundering challenge on Jansson just two minutes after the goal.

Leeds grew into the game, with Ezgjan Alioski at the heart of all their good play, but fell further behind in spectacular fashion.

Kodjia, back in the starting line-up following a spell on the bench, worked his way across the face of Leeds' defence before laying a pass into the path of Hourihane.

The Republic of Ireland international took a touch before unleashing a powerful 25-yard effort which flew past the helpless Peacock-Farrell.

Leeds were shocked and wasted a chance to get back into the game when Mateusz Klich could only shoot weakly into the arms of Orjan Nyland.

Pablo Hernandez came closest to getting them back into the game with a shot which went just wide of a post.

However, confident Villa were threatening to run riot and Kodjia fired just over at the end of another defence-splitting move.

Leeds grabbed a lifeline with a 57th-minute goal from half-time substitute Clark.

Ahmed Elmohamady backed off from making a tackle, allowing Clarke to work his way across Villa's defence before setting himself and rifling a shot past Nyland from about 12 yards.

Suddenly Leeds were lifted and Villa's suspect defence was again exposed when Jansson rose to head home a left-wing corner from Hernandez in the 61st minute.

Leeds sensed an unlikely victory and, in the 95th minute, they clinched it as Roofe pounced on a week Elmohamady header to hammer a low shot into the far corner.


Click here for more stories about Kemar Roofe

Click here for more stories about Leeds United

Share this article now:
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa pictured in August 2018
Read Next:
Marcelo Bielsa wary as on-song Leeds hunt Christmas number one
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League
Championship
Scottish Premiership
Serie A
League One
League Two
National League
Scottish Championship
Scottish League One
Scottish League Two
Welsh Premier League
NIFL Premiership
Indian I-League
Australian A-League
International Friendlies
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds24156342222051
2Norwich CityNorwich24146444291548
3West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom24136552312145
4Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd24125739281141
5Middlesbrough2410952517839
6Derby CountyDerby2411673328539
7Birmingham CityBirmingham24910537271037
8Queens Park RangersQPR2411493132-137
9Aston Villa249964637936
10Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2481243526936
11Stoke CityStoke2481063029134
12Bristol City248882928132
13Swansea CitySwansea2495102928132
14Blackburn RoversBlackburn2471073137-631
15Hull City2486102833-530
16Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2486103040-1030
17Preston North EndPreston2477103640-428
18Brentford2468103535026
19Wigan AthleticWigan2474132335-1225
20Millwall2457122939-1022
21Rotherham UnitedRotherham24410102339-1622
22Bolton WanderersBolton2456131732-1521
23Reading2447132737-1019
24Ipswich TownIpswich2429131941-2215

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account