Report: Leeds United 0-1 Brighton | OneFootball

Match report from Elland Road.

Premier League

Leeds 0

Brighton 1 (Maupay 17’)

Leeds: Casilla, Ayling, Cooper, Bamford, Alioski (Hernandez 67’), Dallas, Raphinha (Poveda 75’), Rodrigo (Roberts 62’), Struijk, Harrison, Klich. Subs not used: Caprile, Llorente, Costa, Davis, Shackleton, Jenkins.

Brighton: Sanchez, White, Webster, Dunk, Maupay (Propper 81’), Mac Allister (Bissouma 62’), Trossard (Tau 73’), Gross, March, Burn, Veltman. Subs not used: Walton, Alzate, Zeqiri, Sanders, Jenks, Khadra.

Neal Maupay netted the only goal of the game midway through the first half, to give Brighton all three points at Elland Road.

Marcelo Bielsa named his starting XI for the game by making a number of changes from the previous FA Cup match against Crawley Town.

Kiko Casilla kept his place in goal for the fixture with Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper and Gjanni Alioski making up the defensive back line. Pascal Struijk replaced Kalvin Phillips in defensive midfield, who missed out after picking up a fifth yellow card against Tottenham Hotspur. Patrick Bamford retook his place up front.

The Seagulls went into the lead on 17 minutes. Ben White burst forward and played the ball to Alexis Mac Allister, who in turn played a neat one-two with Leandro Trossard, before squaring across the middle for an unmarked Maupay to tap into the empty net.

That goal was the only real attacking action in what would then prove to be frustrating half for the Whites. After Trossard had once again caused problems and saw his cross deflected onto the crossbar, chances at either end were limited.

Both Patrick Bamford and Rodrigo would have wanted to do better when presented with a sight of goal from Gjanni Alioski crosses, but neither got the desired connections to turn home. In the only other real effort, Mateusz Klich fired over the bar left-footed.

The half-time whistle was blown without Leeds registering a shot on target, and the visitors only having one of their own, the goal.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 0-1 Brighton

Five minutes into the second half, the first chance for the Whites did arrive. Raphinha cut inside from the wing and played a ball into the box. It was deflected out wide for Jack Harrison, who controlled and curled an effort narrowly wide of Robert Sanchez’s post.

Brighton then had a chance to go two ahead and really should have done. Maupay picked up possession and ran into the Leeds penalty area, pulling the ball back for Trossard, who shot over the bar.

After the hour mark, both teams looked to their benches. Tyler Roberts and Pablo Hernandez were both introduced for Leeds in place of Rodrigo and Alioski, with the visitors bringing on Yves Bissouma and Percy Tau.

Liam Cooper and teammate Roberts did register efforts on target as the Whites pressed for an equaliser, but Sanchez dealt with both efforts comfortably. At the other end, Casilla was forced into action when central-defender Adam Webster broke forward and shot on target.

Despite the best efforts of Bielsa and his coaching staff who gave instruction from the sidelines throughout the closing stages, United could not break down a strong Brighton backline and were defeated at Elland Road.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 0-1 Brighton

Booked: Ayling (Leeds), Webster (Brighton).

Referee: Kevin Friend

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: Behind-closed-doors