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Leeds 1-1 Brighton: Jesse Marsch makes survival pledge after late Pascal Struijk goal

By Luke ReddyBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments615

Struijk headed level and then raced to celebrate with Leeds' fans
Struijk headed level and then raced to celebrate with Leeds' fans

Leeds manager Jesse Marsch says his side will "invest everything" in a final-day push for Premier League survival after Pascal Struijk's injury-time equaliser secured a vital draw against Brighton.

Marsch's side toiled at a raucous Elland Road but looked to be edging nearer to relegation after Danny Welbeck coolly finished to give Brighton a deserved first-half lead.

But the home support defiantly roared Leeds on and Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez brilliantly denied Mateusz Klich in each half, while also turning away a Raphinha free-kick as pressure built.

Leeds striker Joe Gelhardt had gone close early on but his persistence was rewarded at the death when he bundled space in the area to lift a ball across goal, where substitute Struijk nodded home before diving into home supporters in celebration.

It means Leeds move a point above the bottom three with just a trip to Brentford remaining, while Burnley drop to 18th but have two games to play and a substantially better goal difference.

"The point shifts the pressure a bit," Marsch said after the frenetic draw. "This is a psychological battle we are in. What you see is we are put in difficult situations and the resolve of our team.

"We need to be able to show that at the beginning of matches too. It is a fight. Nothing comes easy for us. We seem to dig holes and then have to find a way to dig out. We are ready. We are going to invest everything we have in this last match and see if we can do this."

Frenzied, desperate and crucial

Leeds 1-1 Brighton: Late equaliser 'shifts pressure' on to Burnley - Jesse Marsch

Survival is still out of Leeds' hands but the outpouring of emotion when Struijk - who came on in the 83rd minute - scored, underlined how there is still hope.

Everton - a point above Leeds - have two games to play and can lift themselves clear of trouble. But this scrappy Struijk header could prove priceless as it means Burnley now travel to Aston Villa on Thursday knowing a defeat would mean it is Leeds who have Premier League survival in their own hands on the final day.

In recent weeks, Marsch's side have arguably fallen foul of playing with too much emotion. Red cards in a defeat at Arsenal and at home to Chelsea proved crucial and screamed of a side playing on the edge in their quest to secure top-flight status.

They started with conviction and were unfortunate when Gelhardt saw a goal-bound shot cleared off the line by a team-mate as the effort struck Liam Cooper's face.

But too often Leeds played in a frenzied, sometimes desperate way, forcing passes and snatching at openings with frequency as they found the target just five times with 19 shots on the day.

Crucially, they used the emotion of the day positively late on to snatch something. They clocked 5km more in distance covered as a team and 20 sprints more than Brighton - evidence of a response to the passionate support on offer.

Only Manchester City - on nine - have scored more goals than the seven Leeds have managed in added time this season and Marsch deserves praise for his changes and for keeping his side so positive.

Leeds deserved the point for their second-half improvement, though they had come close to being finished off moments before equalising when Welbeck headed wide from six yards.

On such fine margins seasons can turn and Leeds can only hope this memorable late leveller will indeed prove significant.

Impressive Brighton let points slip

Danny Welbeck scores
Welbeck took his first-half goal cleverly by lifting the ball over Illan Meslier

Not for the first time in recent weeks, Brighton offered a mix of craft and quality, especially in a first half that saw Solly March fire wide when one-on-one and Pascal Gross force a save when well placed.

The side that beat Wolves by three and Manchester United by four in recent weeks were simply too poised for Leeds early on, constructing passes in the home half while Marsch's side played with far more panic.

Welbeck turned Diego Llorente two ways before flicking the ball over home keeper Illan Meslier for a fine opener having picked up a pass from the impressive Yves Bissouma.

Bissouma completed 91% of his passes on the day but was equally adept without the ball as he made more clearances than anyone in a Brighton shirt.

Late substitute Tariq Lamptey pulled an opening wide moments after Leeds had levelled but Brighton boss Graham Potter will likely be frustrated in dropping points so late on.

In truth his side waned after the break and were pegged back by a team who found the kind of sharpness that so often materialises when everything is on the line.

Leeds 1-1 Brighton: Seagulls 'needed a second goal' to seal win - Graham Potter

Player of the match

StruijkPascal Struijk

with an average of 7.63

Leeds United

  1. Squad number21Player nameStruijk
    Average rating

    7.63

  2. Squad number30Player nameGelhardt
    Average rating

    6.12

  3. Squad number42Player nameGreenwood
    Average rating

    5.93

  4. Squad number46Player nameShackleton
    Average rating

    5.71

  5. Squad number23Player namePhillips
    Average rating

    5.63

  6. Squad number1Player nameMeslier
    Average rating

    5.55

  7. Squad number10Player nameRaphinha
    Average rating

    5.49

  8. Squad number5Player nameKoch
    Average rating

    5.40

  9. Squad number22Player nameHarrison
    Average rating

    5.37

  10. Squad number43Player nameKlich
    Average rating

    5.35

  11. Squad number6Player nameCooper
    Average rating

    5.24

  12. Squad number14Player nameLlorente
    Average rating

    5.04

  13. Squad number3Player nameFirpo
    Average rating

    4.59

  14. Squad number19Player nameRodrigo
    Average rating

    4.56

Brighton & Hove Albion

  1. Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
    Average rating

    6.78

  2. Squad number3Player nameCucurella
    Average rating

    6.29

  3. Squad number1Player nameSánchez
    Average rating

    6.26

  4. Squad number11Player nameTrossard
    Average rating

    6.13

  5. Squad number8Player nameBissouma
    Average rating

    6.09

  6. Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
    Average rating

    6.09

  7. Squad number10Player nameMac Allister
    Average rating

    6.04

  8. Squad number5Player nameDunk
    Average rating

    5.95

  9. Squad number34Player nameVeltman
    Average rating

    5.93

  10. Squad number20Player nameMarch
    Average rating

    5.93

  11. Squad number13Player nameGroß
    Average rating

    5.88

  12. Squad number4Player nameWebster
    Average rating

    5.64

  13. Squad number14Player nameLallana
    Average rating

    5.59

  14. Squad number2Player nameLamptey
    Average rating

    5.17

Line-ups

Leeds

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Meslier
  • 5KochSubstituted forShackletonat 68'minutes
  • 14Llorente
  • 6CooperBooked at 84mins
  • 3FirpoBooked at 71minsSubstituted forStruijkat 83'minutes
  • 43KlichSubstituted forGreenwoodat 83'minutes
  • 23Phillips
  • 10Raphinha
  • 19RodrigoBooked at 81mins
  • 22Harrison
  • 30Gelhardt

Substitutes

  • 13Klaesson
  • 21Struijk
  • 26Bate
  • 33Hjelde
  • 35Cresswell
  • 42Greenwood
  • 46Shackleton
  • 54Kenneh
  • 63Gray

Brighton

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1Sánchez
  • 34Veltman
  • 5Dunk
  • 3Cucurella
  • 20MarchSubstituted forWebsterat 62'minutes
  • 8Bissouma
  • 25CaicedoBooked at 65minsSubstituted forLallanaat 74'minutes
  • 11TrossardSubstituted forLampteyat 87'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 13Groß
  • 10Mac Allister
  • 18Welbeck

Substitutes

  • 2Lamptey
  • 4Webster
  • 9Maupay
  • 14Lallana
  • 17Alzate
  • 23Steele
  • 24Duffy
  • 57Offiah
  • 58Ferguson
Referee:
Mike Dean
Attendance:
36,638

Match Stats

Home TeamLeedsAway TeamBrighton
Possession
Home50%
Away50%
Shots
Home19
Away15
Shots on Target
Home5
Away6
Corners
Home8
Away1
Fouls
Home16
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Leeds United 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Leeds United 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Yves Bissouma.

  4. Goal!

    Goal! Leeds United 1, Brighton and Hove Albion 1. Pascal Struijk (Leeds United) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joe Gelhardt.

  5. Booking

    Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card.

  6. Post update

    Hand ball by Tariq Lamptey (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  7. Post update

    Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Marc Cucurella.

  8. Post update

    Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Pascal Struijk (Leeds United).

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Tariq Lamptey replaces Leandro Trossard.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Danny Welbeck (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Leandro Trossard with a cross.

  12. Post update

    Offside, Brighton and Hove Albion. Leandro Trossard tries a through ball, but Danny Welbeck is caught offside.

  13. Booking

    Liam Cooper (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card.

  14. Post update

    Yves Bissouma (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Liam Cooper (Leeds United).

  16. Substitution

    Substitution, Leeds United. Sam Greenwood replaces Mateusz Klich.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Leeds United. Pascal Struijk replaces Junior Firpo.

  18. Post update

    Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Jack Harrison (Leeds United).

  20. Booking

    Rodrigo (Leeds United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

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Comments

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615 comments

  • Comment posted by Dawei, at 16:19 15 May

    The Leeds owners need to ask themselves …. How much of the clubs failings this season can be attributed to our lack of investment and poor decision making?

    • Reply posted by MegaTron, at 16:24 15 May

      MegaTron replied:
      Spot on , lack of investment & cover for Bamford & Philips was glaring before the season, let alone in Jan. Only exaccerbated once these two were injured long term.

  • Comment posted by the peoples poet, at 16:09 15 May

    A point for Leeds against the same Brighton side that HAMMERED Man U?
    Brighton are no mugs, that might be a good draw in the end.

    • Reply posted by qualitychap13, at 16:24 15 May

      qualitychap13 replied:
      A terrible Leeds side that were very lucky not to be 4.0 down.

  • Comment posted by aj, at 16:11 15 May

    Whatever happens Rads and his team need to learn from this season and quickly. We have fallen short in so many areas and if we do manage to stay up it will only be because others are very slightly worse than us. A frustrating season - these issues could easily have been avoided. Feels like the management have been asleep at the wheel.

    • Reply posted by simo, at 16:18 15 May

      simo replied:
      Agreed , should have stood up to Bielsa and his ridiculous insistence on challenging the premier League season with a squad thinner than tissue paper !

  • Comment posted by Paul F, at 16:21 15 May

    Being a Leeds fan is like being a highwire tightrope walker without a safety net! and someone is setting fire to the rope at the same time!! But I wouldn't have it any other way ALAW MOT

    • Reply posted by aj, at 16:52 15 May

      aj replied:
      I can’t ever remember it being any other way. Why do things the easy way? There’s no fun unless your nerves are continuously shredded.

  • Comment posted by Ellandrick, at 16:05 15 May

    Memo to Radz and the 49ers...
    Whatever division Leeds are in next season, the team needs big changes.

    • Reply posted by Sport Report, at 17:04 15 May

      Sport Report replied:
      I think it'll be the PL now. Can't see Burnley getting another point.

  • Comment posted by the peoples poet, at 16:18 15 May

    the haters all crying with that Leeds equaliser.
    WE LOVE IT, keep yearning to have our history and atmosphere.
    All Leeds aren't we?

    • Reply posted by Rameses Niblick the Third, at 16:20 15 May

      Rameses Niblick the Third replied:
      You were barely audible for the most part, give over. You could hear the Brighton chants more often than you could the home fans.

  • Comment posted by Red Fred, at 16:32 15 May

    Forest fan here. Burnley will lose at Villa Park and Eddies boys won’t be coming down from the North East just for the bus ride next week end. A point at Brentford will see Whites staying up and IF we manage to get to the “Promised Land” for next season Leeds and Forest can renew old rivalry’s .My son in law is a White and I love the banter with the Robin Hoods Bay boys.MOT and COYR

    • Reply posted by IAN, at 17:08 15 May

      IAN replied:
      Scabs

  • Comment posted by cunning plan, at 16:56 15 May

    Brighton supporter here; I was impressed with the second half performance from Leeds and in the end felt the result was fair, although perhaps we might have been out of sight by half time. All the best to Leeds United, but I do wish the vociferous minority had been less arrogant and more gracious during the Ben White saga.......

    • Reply posted by IAN, at 17:11 15 May

      IAN replied:
      You got 50 m for an average player like Phillips who fitted into a system that no one else plays

  • Comment posted by orin, at 16:31 15 May

    That's the sixth time this season Leeds have found a stoppage time equaliser or winner. These goals have been worth 9 additional points. The team might having its faults but playing to the death isn't one of them.

    • Reply posted by AndyB_MOT, at 16:35 15 May

      AndyB_MOT replied:
      *Tests memory*...

      Rodrigo v Wolves equaliser
      Rapha v Palace winner
      Paddy v Brentford equaliser
      Joffy v Norwich winner
      Bill v Wolves winner
      Struijk v Brighton equaliser

  • Comment posted by brightonborn, at 16:05 15 May

    100 yellow cards. Pride of Yorkshire.

    • Reply posted by one kidney, at 16:08 15 May

      one kidney replied:
      Well after all. We are dirty Leeds 😂🤪

  • Comment posted by henrikherrmann, at 16:04 15 May

    keep believing until the last minute, I rather have Leeds stay in the premier than Burnley.

    • Reply posted by itsrob, at 16:05 15 May

      itsrob replied:
      I wouldnt

  • Comment posted by Monotone, at 16:25 15 May

    It's definitely between us and Burnley now to go down, just need Villa to do us a favour on Thursday and then it's all to play for on Sunday. If we stay up, it's because we had slightly more bottle than the relegated sides, if we go down then we deserve it. But still hoping. MOT

    • Reply posted by Sorry For Your Loss, at 18:10 15 May

      Sorry For Your Loss replied:
      Villa might just do that, if Villa are looking ahead to the City game.

  • Comment posted by paul, at 16:02 15 May

    As a Brighton fan although not at our best today, it was a great game to watch

    • Reply posted by BUBBLES65, at 16:57 15 May

      BUBBLES65 replied:
      As a Leeds fan I can tell you - it wasn't.

  • Comment posted by thru the wind and pain, at 16:28 15 May

    fingers crossed x the prem is all the better for having leeds in it (LFC fan!).

    • Reply posted by Christopher Wright , at 16:51 15 May

      Christopher Wright replied:
      Why is it?

  • Comment posted by NatX, at 17:02 15 May

    If Leeds do go down, still have to give them credit for fighting in spite of a difficult late schedule.

    Either way, the Leeds game against Wolves is my pick for Premier League game of the season… it was extremely entertaining and I would love to watch it again on reruns for years to come.

  • Comment posted by the peoples poet, at 16:07 15 May

    i know this is survival football but we look poor compared to how we play under Bielsa.
    HOWEVER, Burnley might not get another point, you never know...

    • Reply posted by Pat Pending, at 16:08 15 May

      Pat Pending replied:
      Here's hoping.

  • Comment posted by LUFC1986, at 16:26 15 May

    No matter what happens we have played nearly all season without a full team, and even so we didn't take advantage and get games called off multiple times... And i don't care what anyone says, certain teams have rolled over for Everton and Burnley. We are the unluckiest and unfairly treated team ever.

    • Reply posted by Rameses Niblick the Third, at 16:32 15 May

      Rameses Niblick the Third replied:
      And so quiet until the 92nd minute everyone could hear your tiny violin you're playing.