Leeds came out on top in a seven-goal thriller against Fulham in their first Premier League home game for 16 years.
Leeds’ opening two Premier League games this season have seen 14 goals, the most in a top-flight side’s opening two matches since Wolves in 1962-63.
After losing 4-3 at Liverpool on the opening weekend, this was the second week running that Marcelo Bielsa’s side was involved a frenetic end-to-end affair.
Helder Costa’s fifth-minute goal for the hosts sparked the contest into life, with his powerful close-range effort going in off the underside of the crossbar.
However, Aleksandar Mitrovic levelled the scores with a penalty after Robin Koch had fouled Joe Bryan.
Leeds were soon back in front though, with Poland midfielder Mateusz Klich stroking in a penalty after Bryan had fouled Patrick Bamford.
Bamford’s placed effort just after the interval put Leeds firmly in charge and they looked to have sealed the win when Costa added a fourth from Bamford’s cross.
But Bobby Decordova-Reid’s low drive and Mitrovic’s second goal of the day for the Cottagers set up a dramatic finale.
Tony Blair was the UK prime minister and American TV sitcom Friends had just aired its final episode the last time Leeds featured in a Premier League fixture at home.
Yet Costa’s thumping finishes off the underside of the Fulham crossbar after five minutes was a perfect reminder that the good times have returned to Elland Road.
A narrow opening-day defeat at champions Liverpool illustrated the strides they have made under Argentine boss Marcelo Bielsa.
But this time their adventurous attacking and energetic style was rewarded with all three points – although it was still a performance underscored by moments of naive defending.
Bamford and Costa, in particular, excelled for the hosts leading from the front at every opportunity.
Costa’s pace and trickery repeatedly occupied more than one visiting defender at a time as he constantly demanded the ball. Not only did that invaluably create space for his team-mates, but he was also at his clinical best scoring with both of these two shots resulting in goals.
Bamford’s showing as Leeds’ lone striker will also have pleased Bielsa. In a system that means the 27-year-old is likely to have to sacrifice himself at times, Bamford superbly created Costa’s goal on the left.
And he showed a cool head to convert his only real chance of the game from Klich’s pass.
In Other News – This is how to cancel your TV licence
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In its previous annual report for the 2019 financial year, the public broadcaster said it only collected payments from 2.9 million of the 9.4 million licence holders on its database.
A TV licence currently costs R265 per year (or R28 per month) which means that for that year alone the SABC had a shortfall on collections of around R1.7 billion. learn more
Source – BBC
