As chants of “sack the board” and “sell the club and fuck off home” rang out in the angry home stands, Elland Road erupted in ecstasy as Pascal Struijk struck a dramatic late equaliser against Brighton.
You cannot write the scripts of Leeds United.
Trailing 1-0 to a first-half goal from ex-Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck, the mood had turned ugly among the home support.
And then Struijk, an 83rd-minute substitute, headed home a clever cross from Joe Gelhardt to level matters and trigger wild scenes in the Kop.
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Sunday’s point lifts Leeds out of the relegation zone above Burnley, who lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur in the lunchtime kick-off.
Leeds now have one game remaining – next Sunday’s trip to Brentford – while the Clarets have two matches still to play and a far superior goal difference.
Leeds paraded members of their 1972 FA Cup-winning side and 1992 First Division title-winning team before kick-off, to much acclaim from the home faithful.
Suitably inspired, the Whites began strongly and came agonisingly close to opening the scoring inside the second minute.
Good work from Jack Harrison won a corner on the left flank which saw Seagulls goalkeeper Robert Sanchez drop to Gelhardt, who fired goalwards on the edge of the six-yard box.
His strike was heading for the back of the net, only for the ball to hit captain Liam Cooper in the face to deny Leeds a certain goal.
Brighton soon began to pop the ball with the swagger of a side who had destroyed Manchester United 4-0 eight days earlier.
In the 10th minute, Joel Veltman escaped down the right flank and crossed low for Moises Caicedo to shoot low into the grateful arms of Illan Meslier.
Rodrigo, who had a nightmare first half, gave the ball away and Yves Bissouma was afforded the time and space to saunter unopposed into Leeds’ half and slip a neat pass through to Welbeck.
Llorente was goalside on Welbeck but the former Arsenal man showed impressive skill and strength to outfox the Spain defender and neatly lift the ball over Meslier.
It was the kind of shambolic defending from Llorente which has undermined Leeds all season and, although Harrison fired over soon after, it was Brighton who had by far the greater goal threat.
In the 38th minute, United defender Robin Koch made a vital interception to deny Trossard as he shaped the shoot before Alexis Mac Allister fired the loose ball just wide.
It was a huge let-off for Leeds but they almost equalised as half-time approached when Mateusz Klich fired goalwards from a corner routine, with Sanchez diving full length to turn his 20-yard strike round the post.
The save was brilliant but Leeds went close again in the 54th minute when Raphinha crossed from the right to Rodrigo, only for Lewis Dunk to expertly divert the ball out for another corner.
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With time running out and the Leeds faithful growing restless, Klich’s close-range shot was repelled by the outstanding Sanchez before Gelhardt fired wide moments later. The home fans vented their frustrations.
But then Struijk nodded in at the far post after some excellent play from Gelhardt, to trigger wild celebrations at Elland Road.
Player ratings
Leeds (4-3-3)
- Meslier – 6
- Koch – 6
- Llorente – 5
- Cooper – 6
- Firpo – 5
- Klich – 7
- Phillips – 6
- Harrison – 6
- Raphinha – 6
- Gelhardt – 8
- Rodrigo – 5
Subs:
- Shackleton – 6
- Struijk – 7
- Greenwood – 6
Brighton (3-4-3)
- Sanchez – 8
- Veltman – 7
- Dunk – 7
- Cucurella – 7
- March – 6
- Bissouma – 7
- Caicedo – 6
- Trossard – 6
- Gross – 6
- Mac Allister – 7
- Welbeck – 7
Subs:
- Webster – 6
- Lallana – 6
- Lamptey – 6
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