Leeds United and Manchester United played out a 1-1 draw at Elland Road on Sunday in a match which threatened big things took the best part of an hour to burst into life
This was supposed to be a ‘War of the Roses’. But it resembled more of a pillow fight between two rivals who wilted in the winter sunshine. And even two goals in three second half minutes couldn’t add much gloss to what turned into one of the biggest anti-climaxes of the season.
It ended honours even, with Matheus Cunha salvaging a point for Manchester United, after Brenden Aaronson had put the home side ahead. And the outcome will have left a bitter taste in the mouths of respective managers Daniel Farke and Ruben Amorim.
Farke knows Leeds will have rarely had a better chance to beat bitter rivals they haven’t got the better of in the league since 2002. While the point will do nothing to ease the pressure on Amorim, whose side has now failed to overcome rock-bottom Wolves, and a newly-promoted side, in their last two outings.
Farke had insisted this was ‘more than a game’, due to the long history of vitriol and hatred which existed between these trans Pennine clubs. But animosities of the past failed to make the present, on an afternoon that will live short in the memories.
Amorim was getting his first taste of one of the most explosive fixtures in football. And he appeared to have arrived at Elland Road on a mission to circle the wagons.
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Of the 10 outfield players he named in his side, eight of them were defence minded. While lone striker Benjamin Sesko had scored just twice in 15 league games this season.
Leeds might have been without influential captain Ethan Ampadu, who was suspended, while the hosts had had 48 hours less to prepare for this clash than United had. But Farke must have taken one look at the United team sheet and thought the visitors were there for the taking.
Not least because his Leeds team were bursting with confidence, having thumped Chelsea here as part of a six game unbeaten run. This was just the fifth time in 22 years Leeds had hosted United – and home supporters were determined to make the most of it. It was just a shame Farke’s players didn’t seem to have the same enthusiasm.
The hosts were lacklustre, meaning United didn’t have much of a storm to weather, to be honest. Sesko had a shot blocked and Manuel Ugarte headed just wide, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin screwed a shot off target.
Calvert-Lewin also saw a glancing header come back of the right hand post, while Lucas Perri produced a superb, instinctive save to tip over Leny Yorro’s header from point blank range. But the first half was memorable for how forgettable it was.
And then a game broke out. Kind of. Aaronson put Leeds ahead, catching Ayden Heaven cold to beat him to a hopeful ball forward and finish past Senne Lammens.
But the lead lasted three minutes before Elland Road was sent into silence. Cunha latched onto a pass from substitute Joshua Zirkzee, before beating the stranded Perri with a slide-rule finish to make it 1-1.
Lammens did well to keep out Noah Okafor’s overhead kick, while Sesko missed a sitter at the opposite end. Cunha also hit the post with 10 minutes remaining. But in truth, this game didn’t deserve to have a winner.
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