When any self-respecting Leeds United fan mentions Leicester City, the following statement is almost always heard.
Have you ever seen a better goal?
For the uninitiated, commentator John Helm uttered those immortal seven words to hail a glorious late winner from captain Gordon Strachan in front of a packed South Stand at Elland Road on a crucial occasion against the Foxes near the end of their Division Two title-winning campaign in April 1990.
It became part of United Kingdom folklore. In this current game of huge significance for Leeds against the East Midlanders, any goal, as long as it was a winning one or part of a three-point haul, was desired in the present.
It appeared that Leeds would not receive any until a stunning late line of play flipped the game totally on its head, as the hosts, unfathomably, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
As with the 1990 game, it will not be forgotten quickly. Have you ever seen a madder finish?
Leeds were on the ropes in the second half after falling behind to a 15th-minute header from Wout Faes, but they showed the steeliest of will.
Leicester failed to finish them off and paid a high price, even having a goal ruled out by Patson Daka that should have stood with the score 1-0.
A first goal for the club from replacement Connor Roberts appeared to save a point, luckily, 10 minutes before the end of normal time.
Archie Gray, from vintage Leeds stock, had different plans.
His performance summed up Leeds for the night. He struggled defensively but refused to give up.
His moment came when his shot took two deflections before landing in the net. A really memorable first goal for his family’s club.
Crazily, there was more from another replacement, Dan James, though the final touch came from fellow substitute Patrick Bamford, as Leeds won their ninth league game in a row for the first time since 1931 on a memorable, unforgettable night, moving them within six points of Leicester.
Leeds fans are aware of the score, value a feeling of occasion, and have an instinctual understanding of when to up their own decibel levels.
Friday was one of those days, and the volume was turned up significantly ahead of kickoff. And certainly at the end.
Leicester were not intimidated, in fact. Enzo Maresca predicted a major game for Leeds, but not necessarily for Leicester, and his team tuned out the noise and demonstrated why they are at the top of the table in the first half.
Leeds had chances, and Willy Gnonto was a lethal weapon on the right, but the Foxes dominated in terms of intellect and charm moving forward.
Their movement was slick and fast, and they had several excellent operators, particularly Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Stephy Mavididi.
They outperformed Leeds’ game-changers, Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter, as Leeds fell behind at halftime in the league for the first time since the season’s opening weekend.
Dewsbury-Hall, who Leeds struggled to contain, tapped in Mavididi 14 minutes after the Foxes winger gave Gray the slip. He discovered Daka, whose soaring shot had been tipped over by Illan Meslier. It was a warning.
The United goalkeeper was left exposed and had to take the ball out of the net from the subsequent corner.
Daka flicked on Dewsbury-Hall’s corner on the left, marking a soft concession. Gray, who had a difficult first half defensively, was guilty of ball-watching, and Faes was on hand to score at the far post.
Going forward, Leeds undoubtedly knocked on the door. Gnonto bothered Leicester and generated two chances for Joel Piroe, one on either side of the opener.
Gnonto and Gray worked it brilliantly on the right until the ball found Piroe, who blasted his effort over. Following further effort from Gnonto, the Dutchman passed up a decent headed opportunity from a distance. In big games, you have to be clinical.
Top-of-the-table affairs can sometimes be stodgy, with a lot at stake. In comparison, this was extremely open, but Leicester appeared to be more convincing.
They had a scare when Rutter sent Gnonto clear. Instead of taking his chance early, the Italian international chose to come inside, and the shot was blocked. In such a crucial game, it was yet another waste.
Summerville then threatened to make himself known, but Jannik Vestergaard saw the danger and delivered a brilliant covering challenge.
Leicester had the game where they wanted it at the break, and the onus was on Leeds to resumption.
It could and should have gotten worse in the second half. Leicester had chances to put the game out of reach, but they squandered them.
Teams who are not at their best must demonstrate character during times of struggle. Leeds got up off the floor and did exactly that.
Summerville and Rutter combined for an early chance, with the latter missing the mark. Leicester were patient and had an opportunity to kill Leeds after 56 minutes.
They broke, and the ball found Mavididi in open space on the left. He cut inside and blasted a vicious low shot, which Meslier expertly blocked.
An offside flag then saved Leeds, as Daka’s rebound was ruled out after Vestergaard’s powerful header struck the crossbar after Dewsbury-Hall’s outswinging corner.
Replays revealed that the goal should have stood with the Foxes forward onside after the first header, with the rebound going to him off Rutter. It was an important occasion.
Farke had seen enough and called for Bamford, a welcome return to the bench, and James, but not before Leicester made another magnificent pass.
Dewsbury-Hall passed the ball to Mavididi, who dribbled past Gray before firing wide. His angst was visible, as was Maresca’s.
Leeds were looking increasingly ragged without the ball, which was an uncharacteristic Farke attribute. However, Leicester’s inability to finish the game gave the hosts hope.
Summerville had an opportunity, but Choudhury blocked it. Moments later, he caught sight of the goal again, this time with Faes alert. Bamford quickly stung the underworked Mads Hermansen’s palms, and the Kop had something to believe in once more.
Soon after, Leeds received another significant respite as Leicester took advantage of Greuv’s and subsequently Rodon’s looseness. Pereira sent Daka clear, but his finish was erratic and disastrous, fortunately.
The genuine goal came from Roberts on the other end. Kamara found Rutter, who wriggled away before cutting the ball back. Vestergaard made a mistake for the first time on the night, and Roberts cruised to victory.
There was more to come, much better.
Rutter, who had come to life, did a fantastic job of finding Gray. After Firpo’s departure, he was switched to left-back, and his shot deflected twice off Choudhury and then Faes before nestling delightfully in the back of the net.
Football is brutal hell. Incredibly, there was an encore as James’ free-kick rebounded off Bamford and settled beautifully in the net.
Leeds United: Meslier; Gray, Rodon, Ampadu, Firpo (Roberts 73); Greuv, Kamara; Gnonto (James 64), Rutter, Summerville (Anthony 90), Piroe (Bamford 65). Unused substitutes include Klaesson, Cresswell, Cooper, Shackleton, and Joseph.
Leicester City: Hermansen; Choudhury, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Winks, Pereira; Fatawa, Dewsbury-Hall, Mavididi (McAteer 78); and Daka (Cannon 78). Unused substitutes include Stolarczyk, Coady, Doyle, Albrighton, Praet, Akgun, and Nelson.
Referee: C Pawson (South Yorkshire).
