Report: Leeds United 3-1 Nottingham Forest
· Yahoo Sports
Premier League
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Leeds United3 (Bogle 26’, Okafor 30’, Calvert-Lewin 49’)
Nottingham Forest 1 (Lucca 86’)
Leeds: Darlow (GK), Bogle (Bornauw 90+6’), Gudmundsson, Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, Calvert-Lewin, Aaronson (James 78’), Okafor (Longstaff 82’), Justin, Gruev. Subs not used: Perri (GK), Piroe, Nmecha, Bijol, Tanaka, Gnonto.
Forest: Ortega (GK), Morato, Sangaré, Hudson-Odoi (Ndoye 67’), Anderson, Gibbs-White (C) (Yates 67’), Domínguez (Hutchinson 54’), Jesus (Lucca 54’), Milenkovic, Aina, Abbott (Netz 76’). Subs not used: Gunn (GK), Awoniyi, Cunha, McAtee.
Venue: Elland Road
Attendance: 36,835
Referee: Peter Bankes
Booked: Okafor (Leeds) Sangaré (Forest)
Leeds United kicked off the weekend with a fantastic home victory under the Elland Road lights, earning a thoroughly deserved 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest, thanks to goals from Jayden Bogle, Noah Okafor and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
On the first evening of a busy February run, Daniel Farke had made one change to his squad from the previous fixture, with Okafor returning to the lineup to replace the injured Anton Stach. And it was a boosted bench for the Whites, too, with the return of Daniel James, Jaka Bijol and Lukas Nmecha.
Play got underway in a rainy and raucous Elland Road with Leeds attacking from the off! Gabriel Gudmundsson marauded down the left and played a ball into the box to Brenden Aaronson, whose audacious flick goalward was blocked behind by Morato.
Again, the Swedish international sprinted in from the flank and saw his cross deflected for another corner by Zach Abbott, just inches over the upright.
It was Okafor’s turn next to whip in an inviting delivery, this time cleared by Ola Aina. Down the other end, Callum Hudson-Odoi delivered Forest’s tame first effort which was easy pickings for Karl Darlow.
When Nicolás Domínguez seized on a ball in the Whites’ box, the Wales international was called into action once more, sprawling to tip the winger’s shot around the post.
From yet another corner won by Gudmundsson, James Justin delivered a ball to the back post where Calvert-Lewin rose highest, though the England international’s header cannoned off the underside of the bar.
Moments after, the Whites found the opener! From his own half, Ilia Gruev located the run of Bogle with a deft pass over the top. Coolly and calmly, the wing-back slotted past Stefan Ortega!
And, just minutes later, it was United again finding the back of the net! Aaronson drove down the flank and found Justin. When his first shot was blocked, the defender reacted quickly to seize the rebound and find Okafor who put the home side two to the good!
From there, the Whites’ backline stood firm as Forest sought a route back into the game, frustrating the visitors before Darlow was called to parry a Morgan Gibbs-White effort away as the half came to a close.
HALF TIME: Leeds United 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Unchanged at the break, Leeds began the second half on the front foot just as they had in the first. Gruev and Bogle combined to find Okafor on the edge of the area and though the attacker’s effort was blocked by a red shirt, the Bulgarian once more picked up on the edge of the box.
He clipped an inch-perfect cross into the middle where Calvert-Lewin stooped to inventively chest the ball beyond Ortega and send Elland Road into raptures!
It was all Leeds, as the Whites dominated possession, pressing high and nearly finding a fourth from a number of crosses and through-balls.
After the latest Okafor-Gruev link up, Leeds’ number nine once more pounced on a ball into the box but the ball was cleared away by the visitors before the England international could turn and fire.
Substitute James nearly got a goal on his lively return from injury, carrying down the right wing and firing his shot just wide from a narrow angle.
The visitors did find a consolation goal as time wound down as Lorenzo Lucca headed home. But United, eager to see out a crucial three points, were unfazed, maintaining their high energy and resolute defending.
In the final minute, Darlow reacted brilliantly to tip an Ibrahim Sangaré effort over the bar and that was it! The referee blew his whistle on another memorable victory under the lights for Leeds United.
After their fourth home win in their last seven Elland Road encounters, attentions now turn to Tuesday night when the Whites head to West London to face Chelsea.
FULL TIME: Leeds United 3-1 Nottingham Forest