Leeds United vs Wolverhampton Wanderers. Premier League.
Elland RoadAttendance36,347.
Free highlights and match report as Leeds come from behind to beat Wolves 2-1 on the opening weekend of the Premier League season; Rodrigo levelled for Leeds after Daniel Podence's early opener; Rayan Ait-Nouri's own goal completed Leeds' turnaround at Elland Road.
Sunday 7 August 2022 07:06, UK
Jesse Marsch and Bruno Lage clashed at full-time as a new-look Leeds got off to the perfect start with a 2-1 comeback win over Wolves at Elland Road.
Wolves dominated the second half, but were pegged back when Rayan Ait-Nouri turned Patrick Bamford's cross into his own net in the 74th minute to give Leeds the three points.
The visitors had initially taken the lead through Daniel Podence's sixth-minute half-volleyed effort and rode their luck when goalkeeper Jose Sa took out Rasmus Kristensen in the penalty area unpenalised.
Rodrigo Moreno was on hand to equalise in the 24th minute, before the own goal - which was initially awarded to debutant Brenden Aaronson - completed the turnaround.
"I'm taking credit for it," said Aaronson. "It came off my shin somewhere in there".
Wolves were effective with the few chances they created in the first half and took the lead through Podence's effort - after a Hwang Hee-Chan nod down - bounced into the ground and over the head of Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
There was a contentious moment less than 10 minutes later as Sa collided with Kristensen in the area after recklessly coming off his line to claim a cross. Neither the referee nor the VAR deemed it a foul to the amazement of Clinton Morrison, who told Soccer Saturday: "I have no faith in VAR".
Marsch's side responded by putting Wolves under intense pressure in their own half. It paid off as Aaronson, who was a live wire throughout, regained possession inside the Wolves box to create the opportunity for Rodrigo to fire the ball underneath Sa at his near post with his weaker right foot.
Wolves increased their width in the second half and looked like a new side, creating dangerous moments through Podence and Pedro Neto on numerous occasions, with Leeds right-back Kristensen producing a last-ditch challenge to deny a goalscoring opportunity for the visitors.
For all Wolves' pressure, it was Leeds that got the all-important goal as Patrick Bamford delivered an early low cross for Aaronson at the back post. The USA international, who arrived from RB Salzburg, wheeled away thinking he had swept home, but it was subsequently awarded as an Ait-Nouri own goal.
The absence of Raul Jimenez - or a suitable back-up - cost Wolves as they lacked a focal point when applying the pressure in the second half, and the frustration spilled over for head coach Bruno Lage as he exchanged words with Marsch at the final whistle. His wait for a deputy striker goes on with less than a month of the transfer window to go.
Marsch: "It was nothing, I just had a quick word with Bruno Lage afterwards. I have a lot of respect for him and the way his team plays."
Lage: "In these days we cannot say some things - and I heard that in the first half. So from the first half until the end of the game we have a lot of time to shake hands to apologise. It didn't happen and in the end it's more difficult to accept because we have a long time to do that. Nothing wrong between the managers, life goes on and now let's look forward to the next game against Fulham."
Leeds head coach Jesse Marsch:
"It was easier than some of our matches last season when we had to wait until the last seconds of the match. It was a good football match, it was a high speed of play from both sides.
"We did quite well with and against the ball. First half, I was really pleased with our performance, and [we were] a little bit unlucky not to come in at half-time with more.
"Wolves pushed the game in a big way at the start of the second half, and we had to hang on and fight. One thing I was really pleased with was the performances of the guys off the bench, and helped us get the three points in the match.
"The work has been really good in pre-season, and we are adapting more to the way that I would like to see us play the game, and in moments like this, you need validation. If you play a good match, but you don't get the points it can be an important learning moment, but it's not as positive feedback as when you get the win.
"We didn't win a lot of games here at Elland Road last season, so to start on the right foot with a good performance and an important three points will help us."
Wolves head coach Bruno Lage:
"I'm happy with the performance and disappointed with the result. We came here with big confidence because the pre-season was good, we have confidence to play in this system," said Lage.
"We did well, scored and conceded a strange goal, and had three or four good chances to score in the first half. The second half was our best period, we had 20 or 30 minutes where we dominated. We didn't score, and Leeds scored. We are confident that we are playing in the right way, and confident that my team can play in two systems.
"They played in the way we wanted to play, so I am proud of them."
Asked if the formation change helped Wolves to dominate the game, he added: "It's not about the system, it's about the way we want to play. We want to play with the ball, and there are plenty of games in the previous season that we don't dominate the game in the same way.
"That's the culture we need to have, no matter what the system, we need to dominate the game with the ball. It's not just about the ball, it is about being aggressive in the final third to find chances."
Leeds have a favourable opening run of fixtures, facing only two of the 'big six' - Chelsea and Manchester United - in their first 10 matches. They travel to Southampton next Saturday.
On the same day and time, Wolves host newly-promoted Fulham at Molineux.
