Few Leeds United victories have ever been more rapturously received.
When the 19-year-old substitute Joe Gelhardt fired home a dramatic winner at the Kop end in the fourth minute of added time against Norwich on Sunday, the entire Leeds bench sprinted on to the pitch to celebrate with him.
They were soon mobbed by ecstatic supporters in the West Stand while head coach Jesse Marsch was no less animated pitchside.
Director of football Victor Orta was in tears, overcome with the magnitude of what a victory will do to Leeds’ hopes of Premier League survival.
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The raw fervour of Elland Road, that unifying sense of togetherness, remains one of the most impressive sights and sounds in the English game.
“I feel like I played 96 minutes,” said an emotionally-drained Marsch after an incredible finale which saw Gelhardt score just moments after Norwich had equalised.
“On my deathbed I’ll reflect on this day because it was a special moment for all of us.
“I had heard a lot about the magic of Elland Road and it was certainly an incredible experience.
“My family was here for the first time today and I’m continuing to learn everything about the people, the city and the club, and then how to help it transition into a version of football which I think can be really successful moving forward.
“But these three points are obviously incredibly valuable.”
Leeds’ next five fixtures
- Wolves (a) – Friday, 18 March
- Southampton (h) – Saturday, 2 April
- Watford (a) – Saturday, 9 April
- Chelsea (h) – Saturday, 16 April
- Crystal Palace (a) – Saturday, 23 April
After an abject 3-0 surrender at home to Aston Villa three days earlier – a club record-equalling sixth straight league defeat – there was no mistaking the importance of Norwich’s visit.
It was billed as a relegation shoot-out, which was only a slight exaggeration, but overall Leeds deserved to win a tense encounter.
They could have been 4-0 up at the break, but had only Rodrigo’s 14th-minute strike to show for their efforts.
A hopeful punt upfield fell kindly into the path of the Spain striker, whose well-struck right-foot shot deflected in off Canaries captain Ben Gibson.
Chances continued to proliferate for Leeds, with Raphinha firing Patrick Bamford’s left-wing delivery over the crossbar and Pascal Struijk blazing wide from close range.
Bamford, making his first start for nearly six months after injury, then spurned a good chance on the stroke of half-time.
With 12 minutes remaining, Milot Rashica went down in the box under the challenge of Luke Ayling. The penalty awarded was overturned when replays showed the Norwich player had stood on Ayling’s leg.
Nevertheless, Norwich equalised in the first minute of added time when Teemu Pukki crossed low from the right and Kenny McLean fired home.
Marsch’s team, though, were not to be denied and in the dying minutes Gelhardt’s flick-on header found the excellent Raphinha, who rounded Tim Krul before squaring for the teenage substitute to fire into an empty net.
“It was an unbelievable feeling when I saw it hit the net. It was crazy,” Gelhardt said.
Marsch, who collected his first win as Leeds boss and whose side now face Wolves on Friday, could certainly vouch for that.
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