Aston Villa 2-3 Leeds United: Whites go top of the table with a last-minute goal
Leeds United came from two goals down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Villa Park to retain top spot in the Championship table for Christmas morning. Kemar Roofe struck the winning goal in the 95th minute to give the away side a fantastic win after they were down and out by half-time.
Villa led 2-0 at the break with goals coming from Tammy Abraham and Conor Hourihane. The former scored from close-range after John McGinn’s lung-bursting run came to fruition. Hourihane then placed a lovely left-foot curler to make the scoreline 2-0 at half-time. At this stage, things looked bleak and deflating for Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
However, the Peacocks struck back after the break. In the space of five second-half minutes, they equalised the proceedings. Jack Clarke scored a stunning right-footed curling goal and Pontus Jansson scored a fabulous header to make it 2-2 around the hour mark.
In the final few minutes, it was the away team who went on to create chances and test the fragile spot of the hosts. A Mateusz Klich cross was put over by Orjan Nyland but Villa survived a handball appeal intended towards Glenn Whelan.
Kemar Roofe was in action very late on though when Ahmed Elmohamady’s poor headed clearance was sent home by him to send the away fans into raptures.
This result puts Leeds back in front, a point clear of second-placed Norwich City. Meanwhile, Villa go down to 11th position in the table, five points behind the playoff spots.
Here’s how the Leeds fans reacted on social media after this fantastic comeback win away from home:
Best team we’ve come up against all season, and from your first goal, looked like only one outcome. Clarke looks a heck of a talent too.
Great advert for the EFL, and hopefully the return match at Elland Road is just as good.
— James (@GoofyVillain) December 23, 2018
Now that is what it feels like to be a Leeds fan!!!!
— Ashley Griffith (@AshleyGriffo_) December 23, 2018
Hopefully this is the season you come back to the Premier League. It’s been long overdue.
— Carl (@CAJ_310) December 23, 2018
Game of the season
By the team is season
But the manager of the season
This is gold!
This is why we are Leeds
El loco ..The bucket sitting saint#mot #lufc— Abhinav Shukla (@JustShukla) December 23, 2018
Right you sexy bunch of bastards !!!! 2-0 down at ht then come back to win it 3-2 with a last min winner !!!! If that doesn’t put a message out to other teams now then I don’t know what does !!! Big hats aff to the 2500 travelling fans also my heart is still pumping !!! LOVE YOU
— Steven (@st53bve) December 23, 2018