Leeds 2-2 Everton: Raphinha gives Whites fans something to cheer on return to Elland Road

3 years ago 85
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Raphinha scores for Leeds against EvertonRaphinha scored six goals for Leeds last season, including two against Everton

Raphinha came to Leeds' rescue with a superb curling finish to rescue a point against Everton in the club's first home Premier League game with a full stadium in 17 years.

The Brazilian, who scored home and away against the Toffees last season, struck with 18 minutes remaining of a pulsating, ferocious and frankly brilliant match played out to near constant noise from the stands.

Leeds had been behind twice, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin giving Everton a first-half lead with a penalty awarded via VAR and a low finish on the turn from the excellent Demarai Gray early in the second.

Mateusz Klich restored parity the first time courtesy of a dinked finish and Raphinha ensured a point apiece with his brilliant strike.

Leeds were the better side for much of the contest, roared on at every opportunity by 36,293 fans, making the most of being together in the ground for the first time in 532 days.

But Everton were a threat throughout and would have possibly put the game to bed by making it 3-1 had Illan Meslier not produced a superb save to deny Calvert-Lewin a second from close range.

It means a first point of the season for the home side and now two games unbeaten for the Toffees at the start of Rafael Benitez's managerial tenure.

A game befitting a full house

Can all football matches be like this one?

It had everything you could wish for - great goals, fierce tackles, battles within a battle, twists and turns, all played out between two sides intent on going for a killer blow in front of a vociferous, deafening crowd revelling in their return to a stadium.

It was loud before kick-off and stayed that way throughout, with each Leeds goal greeted with an ear-splitting release of joy.

The Whites fans were certainly put through the wringer, though, on their return.

They were handed a perceived injustice in the first-half when referee Darren England went to consult his pitchside monitor and concluded that Liam Cooper had indeed held Calvert-Lewin in the box.

After the surge of renewed optimism of Klich's equaliser, they were dealt anther hammer blow via Gray's finish - a well-executed bit of skill that summed up the winger's impressive display.

There were nervy moments at 2-1, with Everton threatening to pull away as Manchester United had done the previous weekend, but Leeds rallied and deservedly earned their point from Raphinha's moment of magic.

Everton will be disappointed not to have held on for a second successive win, but will be pleased with a display that showcased what Benitez is aiming for with the team.

They will cause lots of sides problems with their pace and dynamism in attack - Calvert-Lewin the focal point off which a host of lively forwards dart and dash with intent.

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Leeds United

  1. Squad number1Player nameMeslier

  2. Squad number2Player nameAyling

  3. Squad number21Player nameStruijk

  4. Squad number6Player nameCooper

  5. Squad number23Player namePhillips

  6. Squad number3Player nameFirpo

  7. Squad number43Player nameKlich

  8. Squad number15Player nameDallas

  9. Squad number10Player nameRaphinha

  10. Squad number22Player nameHarrison

  11. Squad number9Player nameBamford

  1. Squad number11Player nameRoberts

  2. Squad number46Player nameShackleton

Everton

  1. Squad number1Player namePickford

  2. Squad number23Player nameColeman

  3. Squad number13Player nameMina

  4. Squad number5Player nameKeane

  5. Squad number12Player nameDigne

  6. Squad number17Player nameIwobi

  7. Squad number16Player nameDoucouré

  8. Squad number6Player nameAllan

  9. Squad number11Player nameGray

  10. Squad number7Player nameRicharlison

  11. Squad number9Player nameCalvert-Lewin

  1. Squad number8Player nameDelph

  2. Squad number14Player nameTownsend

  3. Squad number27Player nameKean

Line-ups

Leeds

Formation 3-3-3-1

  • 1Meslier
  • 2Ayling
  • 21Struijk
  • 6CooperBooked at 28mins
  • 23Phillips
  • 3FirpoSubstituted forShackletonat 60'minutes
  • 43KlichSubstituted forRobertsat 60'minutes
  • 15Dallas
  • 10Raphinha
  • 22Harrison
  • 9BamfordBooked at 37mins

Substitutes

  • 4Forshaw
  • 11Roberts
  • 13Klaesson
  • 17Hélder Costa
  • 19Rodrigo
  • 35Cresswell
  • 37Drameh
  • 38Summerville
  • 46Shackleton

Everton

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Pickford
  • 23ColemanBooked at 77mins
  • 13MinaBooked at 37mins
  • 5Keane
  • 12DigneBooked at 68mins
  • 17IwobiSubstituted forTownsendat 75'minutes
  • 16DoucouréBooked at 82mins
  • 6Allan
  • 11GraySubstituted forDelphat 83'minutes
  • 7Richarlison
  • 9Calvert-LewinSubstituted forKeanat 90'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Kenny
  • 4Holgate
  • 8Delph
  • 14Townsend
  • 15Begovic
  • 25Gbamin
  • 26Davies
  • 27Kean
  • 32Branthwaite

Live Text

  1. Match ends, Leeds United 2, Everton 2.

  2. Second Half ends, Leeds United 2, Everton 2.

  3. Attempt blocked. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) left footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Jack Harrison.

  4. Attempt missed. Jack Harrison (Leeds United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

  5. Attempt saved. Michael Keane (Everton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Lucas Digne with a cross.

  6. Corner, Everton. Conceded by Liam Cooper.

  7. Attempt blocked. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  8. Substitution, Everton. Moise Kean replaces Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

  9. Attempt saved. Andros Townsend (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Richarlison.

  10. Hand ball by Lucas Digne (Everton).

  11. Attempt missed. Séamus Coleman (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

  12. Attempt blocked. Raphinha (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Luke Ayling with a headed pass.

  13. Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Yerry Mina.

  14. Attempt blocked. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kalvin Phillips.

  15. Substitution, Everton. Fabian Delph replaces Demarai Gray.

  16. Attempt missed. Pascal Struijk (Leeds United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Stuart Dallas following a set piece situation.

  17. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  18. Raphinha (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  19. Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton).

  20. Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Michael Keane.

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