Pitch at the Strawberry Arena, the National Stadium of Sweden, finished in around 2012.
Early Match Flow & Highlights:
Mid-Half Moments:
Now is Ka stepping inside. Gets a free kick on the edge of the box he
wants yet. It's just Gnonto putting a covering block. Flick-on header well
wide in the end and it was the room forward — Cheeto Obi glancing his
header towards goal.
Back to Tanaka. Gnonto just about gets himself in place and then produces the skills to get it back to Tanaka. The two of them are taking on Manchester United on their own.
“Willy Willy Willy.”
That was superb, wasn't it? Brilliant. Close quarter control. Stuck to the
boots of the pair of them and there was a large cheer from one end of the
ground that enjoyed it as well.
More Lead Pressure:
Gnonto late challenge. Not enough in it. Referee I think spots that. Grev
gets in as well. Now there's space for Byron. Harrison trying to peel out
to get a bit extra room on the touchline. The sun in his eyes. He puts it
in towards Nmecha. If the lick gets there first — won back though by
Leeds. Kuv Bogle on his outside.
Dely de ball appeals by Nmecha and Harrison. Bit of dramatics from there to say “I didn't think it hit him in the chest,” but well, I think it did. But it was an awful clearance that he actually got all wrong.
Counter Attacks & Big Chances:
Now trying to break out from this lead's practice. He goes over the top.
Gnonto chasing it down. He wins the original collision. Does he keep it
alive? Awareness from Jadden Bogle and then the skill to match. He's
enjoying himself out there. Gnonto trying to pick him out now. He's got to
work extra hard as Leeds are beating him behind.
Here's Obi trying to thrash it across the face. Darlow palms it out of the box and away from trouble. Leeds just maybe one touch too many in terms of trying to play out from the back. Bogle this time stands Ka up. It'll fall out to the box for Leon. He turns, twists — Obi, Rodon, Bogle — all hands on deck defensively for Leeds and Fernandez flicks the ball on.
Darlow is going to call rank here and get it clear. I think he's caught Jadden Bogle in the process.
Midfield Battles:
Guruv in midfield into a space to have a look further forward. Gnonto
ignored but Leeds still in possession. Just around 10 minutes to go of
this first half. Can expect a number of changes for both squads. Bogle
inside of Tanaka.
This is effortless from Jadden Bogle. He's having a really good game. Ball forward for Nmecha. He's not too far in front of him. Highlight reel stuff from the Leeds fullback, but he has carried on where he left off.
I love the idea here. And that little ball through as well. Just unfortunately too far. Movement and passing was very good.
United Fight Back:
Leon for Manchester United. Kuna picks up possession. Gnonto trying not to
foul him. Ka goes further wide to carry on the attack. It's Ahmad. Ball
goes across. It's blazed over by the youngster. Good covering defensive
work from Bogle. Stood his ground. Didn't dive in — just made life very
awkward for him.
Leeds had a gap in midfield. Manchester United spotted it. Fernandez trying to make something of it. Guruv and Tanaka working hard. Tanaka digging in. He's had the pocket picked though. Bogle comes across to rescue. There is Ampadu once more.
Halftime Subs & New Faces:
To the pitch. Eight new faces: Melier, Bourne, Struijk, Goodmanson,
Longstaff, James, and Piroe looking down at the ankle. Caught a stray boot
there as Goodmanson stretches the legs for the first time. Shows Leeds
fans perhaps what he'll bring to the party.
Second Half Action:
Back it goes into Bourne now. Bogle tucking in from right back to help
out. Great ball into Piroe. Returns the run. Piroe uses him as a decoy
runner. Now he picks him out. Bogle running through on goal —
Save!
Well smothered by Tom Heaton in goal. Best move of the match for Leeds United. Just that final finish from Jadden Bogle. You can see he thought he could have done better.
Set Pieces & More Pressure:
Brilliant. Piroe does really well here. “See you later” to a couple of
players. Good shimmy. Return ball is good. That touch just allows the
keeper to come out, make the angle more difficult.
What can they do from the latest set piece? Flick on from Gur. Bourne now jumped up. It's at the far post for Tanaka. He just thrashed at that at the last second.
Late Game Highlights:
James again running at Heaton. Tries to stand him up and Leeds fans behind
the goal try to do all they can to force a mistake. Manchester United on
the attack though. Ruben and his men have used this space pretty well.
Dalot in behind. Hland looked offside. Melier commands his area very quickly. There was an offside flag. Hland I think he's not happy at the pace of the ball. But the main thing for Leeds — Tony says — nobody panics and Melier more importantly didn't wait for a defender to take control. He quite simply grabbed the ball by the horns and did it himself.
Final Minutes & Closing Whistle:
Left foot, wasn't it? Just going offside. Melier pouncing on the ball. Got
enough men back. But once again, you can just see the pace of transition
of the Premier League side.
Strokes pass out from the back just a bit too close to Manchester United jersey. Now Leeds under pressure. Hland back it goes to Dalot whose first touch takes him into a bit more space. Tanaka though tries to close that down and Hland bounces off. Great goal strike. Great ball out from the back as you say.
Now Tanaka got to be aware there's pressure coming. While he was behind him, it was the pressure in front that eventually caught him out. And in his credit, he goes and makes an immediate amend.
Final Leeds Push:
The ball and now Leeds might fancy an attack of their own. Dan James got
the legs going forward. Now he's picked up the pass at the far post to
Ramazani. It's just overstretched. The flag was going to deny him anyway,
but Dan James opened up the legs and got the pace going.
He was offside but Joel Piroe — he showed it a couple of times last year with those killer through balls. That was effortless from him and he's looked really creative out there.
Bogle, Tanaka, and Gur are the three players that stayed on from the first half. Goodmanson again nipped, as you say Tony, to get the ball back. Piroe to Ramazani, options at the far post. He might not need them. Tried to squeeze it across and Tom Heaton got down to his left.
Final Whistle & Commentary Summary:
Attack still not fully over thanks to Longstaff, and Heaton has to
hurriedly clear and that'll be out for a throw. Leeds just slowly knocking
on the door now.
Well, this is the area of the pitch where we wanted to see an improvement. Well, we certainly are. Piroe again with an excellent ball. Bono nips in. Good strong challenge. Piroe touches intercepted. Longstaff — referee says it hit the chest and now Longstaff will bring it forward.
He goes to Ramazani. Piroe and James at the far post. Goodmanson is the one bursting forward. Ramazani doesn't use any of them as he goes for goal down the throat of Tom Heaton.
Gets the ball, goes up and under towards Dalot. Chambers going across to try and get to him. The challenge comes in. The referee keeps the whistle in his pocket as Melier makes a save.
Final Summary:
The referee does bring the action to a close. A preseason friendly without
any goals, but it's showing glimpses of what they can do in possession.
The same to be said defensively as well. Preseason games can often be
overanalyzed.
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