Leeds move second after beating Middlesbrough in seven-goal thriller

Leeds maintained their automatic promotion charge with a thrilling 4-3 win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Had Leeds lost, the door would have opened for Leicester to seal promotion on Tuesday night with a win against Southampton at the King Power Stadium. Their victory, however, means that cannot happen and the champagne is on ice.

Isaiah Jones put Michael Carrick’s Boro in front inside 10 minutes, but a Crysencio Summerville penalty and Patrick Bamford’s ninth goal of the season turned the game in Leeds’ favour shortly afterwards.

The in-form Emmanuel Latte Lath then buried an equaliser on the half-hour, before Willy Gnonto swept home to make it 3-2 to Leeds at the break, despite replays showing the Italian had strayed offside before doing so.

Leeds sat back early in the second half, yet still managed to extend their lead when Summerville curled home a sumptuous second, which established a two-goal cushion for the first time.

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Latte Lath’s brilliant looping header set up a tense finale, but Boro were not able to force another equaliser that would have denied Leeds three vital points.

Leeds move back up to second, one point behind leaders Leicester and one ahead of Ipswich in third, while Middlesbrough’s faint play-off hopes end as they stay ninth, nine points off the top six with only two games left to play.

How Leeds came out on top in seven-goal thriller

With three points incredibly valuable to each team’s respective cause, goals were always likely at the Riverside. Few could have guessed how many, though.

Jones put Middlesbrough in front after pouncing on a loose ball when Latte Lath had drawn a challenge from Ilia Gruev, but Leeds were level inside seven minutes. Georginio Rutter was tripped by Anfernee Dijksteel in the box and Summerville whipped the equaliser from the spot after Bamford had diplomatically handed him the ball.

Ex-Boro man Bamford had one of his own very shortly afterwards, though. Junior Firpo’s excellent cross found the striker, who ghosted between two centre-backs and got the slight connection that took the ball past Seny Dieng and turned the game in Leeds’ favour for the first time.

On the half-hour, Boro had another one back, when the in-form Latte Lath received the ball from Finn Azaz and held off Ethan Ampadu to score for the fourth game in succession.

And, just for good measure, Leeds edged in front for the second time after 39 minutes, with Gnonto getting on the end of Summerville’s ball and tucking away a third. Replays suggested, however, the Italian had strayed offside in the build-up.

Leeds were relatively passive after the break; happy to sit back and let Middlesbrough try and do what they could. They didn’t look at their free-flowing best, yet still managed to extend their lead through Summerville, who curled home an absolute beauty after some neat interplay on the left.

They looked home and dry after that – until Latte Lath got on the end of a lofted ball from Alex Gilbert and expertly looped a header over Illan Meslier to set up a grandstand finish. Fortunately for the visitors, the damaging eighth goal never came.

Carrick reacts to Gnonto’s ‘offside’ goal

Farke: We have to concentrate on ourselves

What’s next?

Leeds are back in action at 8pm on Friday April 26, when they travel to Loftus Road to take on QPR, live on Sky Sports Football.

Middlesbrough return at 3pm the following day, Saturday April 27, when they take on Cardiff at the Cardiff City Stadium.

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