Leeds United took a potentially significant step back to the Premier League after showing their comeback spirit again to win a pulsating Yorkshire derby and open a commanding lead at the Championship summit.
Having scored late twice last week to clinch a dramatic victory over Sunderland at Elland Road, Daniel Farke’s side delivered when it mattered yet against their promotion rivals, scoring three times in the final 20 minutes to move seven points clear of third-placed Burnley.
Related: Sheffield United v Leeds United: Championship – live
Leeds were largely outplayed throughout a one-sided first half and fell behind courtesy of a horrendous goalkeeping error from Illan Meslier, who palmed the ball into his own net after Tyrese Campbell’s header hit the post. They could, and perhaps should, have been even further behind too and it looked as though Sheffield United were going top.
But the influence of Leeds’ bench proved decisive. Junior Firpo levelled the scores with a wonderful header with 20 minutes remaining before midfielder Ao Tanaka put the visitors in front with a minute remaining after a superb set-piece from Leeds. Then, a minute later, Joël Piroe scored a magnificent long-range strike to seal a hugely significant result for Leeds, who are closing in on promotion.
Farke was serving a touchline ban here following his third yellow card of the season and there was no doubting his side struggled early on against a Sheffield United team more than up for the challenge. Perhaps unsurprisingly given his struggles this season, most of the Blades’ early attention was focused on Meslier.
Callum O’Hare’s pinpoint corner put the French goalkeeper under extreme pressure and he could only punch the ball backwards to his goal, forcing Ilia Gruev to clear the ball off the line and keep it scoreless. But the pressure on Leeds, and Meslier in particular, kept on coming. And at some stage, you feared it would prove too much.
That was emphatically proven after 14 minutes. Ben Brereton Díaz’s cross saw Meslier produce a fine save to deny O’Hare, but what happened next was bizarre and comical in equal measure. Campbell had an empty net to head the ball into, albeit from an acute angle, but he could only hit the post from barely a foot out.
With the ball rolling along the line, Meslier somehow turned it into his own net to put the hosts in front. On the balance of play in the early exchanges, it was a lead Sheffield United deserved – and they didn’t hold back in their pursuit of a second.
Leeds were struggling to adapt to the pace of the game and had Junior Firpo not produced a brilliant challenge to block Campbell’s cross, O’Hare would have had a simple finish to make it 2-0. Given Leeds’ dominance throughout most of this season, it was startling to see them being outplayed in such a comprehensive manner.
Manor Solomon managed to get in behind the Sheffield United defence on two occasions in the minutes before half-time, and he should have done better with the first of those opportunities, only producing a tame shot which was easily saved by Michael Cooper. It offered a slither of hope for Leeds but at half-time, there was no doubting which side were on top.
Meslier was sent out early for the second half and was the point of ridicule for the home support as he warmed up, but he did produce a fine piece of play to clean up a Brereton Díaz through-ball, gathering just before exiting the penalty area as Campbell looked certain to pounce.
At the other end, Leeds felt they had a case for a penalty when Dan James was felled by Jack Robinson but the claims were waved away. However, Leeds were growing into the game and with 18 minutes to go, they did pull level when James’s magnificent cross was met by Firpo, who produced a stunning header to beat Cooper.
And suddenly, it was Leeds now pushing for an unlikely winner. With the momentum behind them, Piroe produced a smart low save from Cooper before the goalkeeper somehow denied substitute Willy Gnonto with an outrageous diving save.
But Leeds saved their finest moments for when it mattered most. Substitute Joe Rothwell’s corner was flicked on and then met at the far post by Tanaka, who headed over the head of Sydie Peck before Piroe clinched a dramatic victory with a stunning long-range strike.
