Leeds United players celebrate after scoring. (Getty Images)
Patrick Bamford, Mateusz Klich and Helder Costa scored for Leeds United as Marcelo Bielsa’s side beat Middlesbrough 4-0 at Elland Road on Saturday.
Given Middlesbrough’s struggles this season, the Whites headed into the match at Elland Road as overwhelming favourites. Bielsa’s side left it late to beat Reading on Tuesday night but they were out of the blocks fast this afternoon with a sparkling opening 10 minutes.
Luke Ayling curled an effort wide and had Middlesbrough goalkeeper Aynsley Pears worried inside the opening 60 seconds. A Jack Harrison cross found Patrick Bamford and the striker forced another good save from Pears.
In the third minute, however, Pears failed to hold a Bamford header and Leeds quickly worked the ball to Pablo Hernandez waiting on the left side of the box and his floated cross was headed home at the far post by Bamford.
Three minutes later, Boro had another scare when Bola badly sliced an attempted clearance back over his head to the goalscorer, whose shot was saved.
Lewis Wing had Boro’s first attempt at Kiko Casilla’s goal on 12 minutes, but the midfielder pulled his shot wide. The visitors didn’t create much after that as Leeds were in complete control for the majority of the opening 45 minutes.
Then, deep into first-half stoppage time, Klich doubled the advantage for the home team. Bamford latched onto a long ball and his cut-back fell on the path of the advancing Klich, whose deflected effort went past the Boro goalkeeper.
Leeds started the second half from where they ended the first, with Harrison forcing Pears into an early save.
However, Bielsa’s team did extend their lead in the 68th minute when Helder Costa blasted a powerful shot into the net. And the fourth came five minutes later with Klich hitting a stunning shot that Pears had no chance of keeping out.
Delighted with the massive victory over Middlesbrough, here’s how some Leeds United fans reacted on Twitter.
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