Report: Sunderland 2-2 Leeds United - Leeds United

Sky Bet Championship

Sunderland 2 (Rigg 9’, Browne 90+6’)

Leeds United 2 (Piroe 22’, Firpo 55’)

Sunderland: Patterson (GK), Cirkin, Neil (C), Bellingham, Roberts, Rigg (Browne 73’), O’Nien, Mundle, Isidor, Mepham, Hume. Subs not used: Moore (GK), Rusyn, Ba, Connolly, Aleksic, Hjelde, Watson, Johnson.

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Bogle, Firpo, Struijk (C), Rodon, Rothwell, Piroe (Joseph 77’), Aaronson, Ramazani (Schmidt 90’), Tanaka, Gnonto (Byram 90’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Bamford, Gelhardt, Debayo, Chambers, Crew.

Venue: Stadium of Light

Attendance: 41,769

Referee: Tim Robinson

Booked: Bellingham, Neil, Rigg (Sunderland) Rodon, Firpo, Bogle (Leeds)

Making a second away trip of the week and a third game in six days, Daniel Farke’s team travelled north to face Sunderland AFC at the Stadium of Light, but had to settle for a point after a stoppage time goal for the home side.

The early Sky Bet Championship pace setters were in fine form, having won six out of their opening eight matches, which included four out of four wins on home turf under their recently appointed head coach Regis Le Bris.

On the road, the Whites had started well this season, unbeaten from their first four games. Two wins and two draws had seen the team concede just once, meaning this encounter was set-up for a battling affair under the lights on Wearside.

Following the 1-1 draw with Norwich City last time out, Farke made two changes to his starting XI. Joel Piroe came into the attack, whilst Joe Rothwell was given his first start of the season after an impressive performance at Carrow Road.

When the match began, it was the hosts who had the first clear opening. Patrick Roberts worked his way down the right wing before the ball was crossed, finding Jobe Bellingham on the edge of the box, but the midfielder struck over the bar when well placed.

Just a few minutes later and Sunderland were ahead in the match. Another ball across the box from the right saw Illan Meslier make a good save to deny Dennis Cirkin, but the ball landed kindly for Chris Rigg to tap home from close range.

From a sustained spell of pressure and time on the ball, the Whites were back level quickly! Willy Gnonto was the provider with a pinpoint cross in from the right and Piroe was there on the end of it, to head home and equalise for his side.

After scoring, Leeds were on top and in search of more. Chances came for Largie Ramazani and Gnonto, but neither could hit the target after well-worked moves.

Sunderland were able to see out the pressure before then going close themselves, as Bellingham had another effort from the edge of the box which was deflected wide, before the midfielder tried the same again just after, this one he curled wide himself.

When the whistle sounded for the interval, it had been an entertaining first half with chances at either end, meaning the teams went in on level terms.

HALF TIME: Sunderland 1-1 Leeds United

No changes from either side came at the break which meant that the XIs which had began the game were back out to contest against one another in the second half.

The opening 10 minutes was tense after the restart and both teams exchanged possession, with no clear cut chances, but that soon changed in the 55th minute.

Leeds played out well from a defensive free-kick and Ramazani showed superb strength in midfield, before finding Junior Firpo.

He then pushed forward and exchanged a brilliant one-two with Gnonto, allowing the full-back to strike home first time into the far corner and put his side ahead! With Firpo finding the net, it gave our Italian winger his second assist of the match!

The sold out away end hosting the 2,000 travelling fans could be heard from their section high up at the Stadium of Light, as they encored and supported their team throughout. As expected, a response also came from the home side, both in the pitch and in the stands.

Entering the final 15 minutes, both teams made a change. The Black Cats brought on Alan Browne in place of Rigg. Having scored and put in a big shift up front, Piroe was replaced by Mateo Joseph in attack.

With six minutes of stoppage time added, in the final minute of those, Sunderland equalised. A long free-kick launched forward was flicked goalwards by Alan Browne and it found its way beyond Meslier, into the back of the net.

The full-time whistle that sounded shortly after brought the game to a close, with the team now having a two-week break for international fixtures.

FULL TIME: Sunderland 2-2 Leeds United