Leeds United struggling for form
Leeds have not been able to follow up on the great last season at all, and Marcelo Bielsa's troops have only managed to pick up six points so far. They were today up against a strong Wolves team that came into the match with three wins in a row and a fantastic comeback as they managed to turn 0-2 to 3-2 against Aston Villa.
It was also the strong guests who got the best from the start, as they took the lead with 1-0 after just nine minutes. Nelson Semedo appeared on cue near the post, and steered it past the goalie. In the box, he found Raul Jimenez, who, however, had his finish blocked. The ball landed at the feet of Hwang Hee-chan, who was completely unmarked in the box.
The home team was not deterred by the bad start, however, and they quickly settled on the game again, but even if you have the ball a lot, it does not always translate into the big chances, and it had to be true for Leeds in the first half. The Wolves defense stood well and the half chances that the white-clad came up with never really put the visitors' goalkeeper under pressure.
Thus, the goal from the guests' Hee-chan also became the only one during the first 45 minutes of the match.
The match picture with Leeds on the ball, and Wolves lurking on conversions, from the first half continued after the break, but none of the teams really managed to create the chances that could really kick-start the match. We had to go all the way to 20 minutes before time before the home team came close to an equalizer.
Rodrigo was given a chance to change things around. Here, Tyler Roberts just cut the ball further towards the long corner, but he had to watch his finish go close past one post. A few minutes later, they were again close after a header when Liam Cooper came highest after a free kick, but the Leeds captain sent his finish right into the gloves of José Sá.
12 minutes before time, the home team should have equalized after a mistake by Conor Coady. The Wolves captain tried to break the ball on the edge of his own box, but he came too late and a few seconds later Joe Gelhardt was alone with the visitors' goalkeeper. The young Englishman kicked hard and high, but the Portuguese on the line got exactly the gloves on the ball and hit it over goal.
Leeds really pressed on, and in the overtime of the match, they got a golden opportunity to equalize. Gelhardt took an excellent dribble inside the Wolves field, and here he was put down by Semedo. It made the match referee point to the spot, and it was Spanish Rodrigo who got the responsibility. He was confident in his case, kicked the opposite of Sá, and then there was equalized to 1-1.
The late goal was also the last of the match. The Wolves go up by one point to an instant tenth place, while Leeds increase the distance to the teams below the relegation line. Bielsa's team now has three points down to Burnley in 18th place.