clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Match Recap: Leeds United 1-4 Leicester City

If you give Leicester a yard they’ll pick you apart. And that’s exactly what happened.

Leeds United v Leicester City - Premier League
Dallas, Klich and Cooper celebrate as Leeds pull one back in the second half.
Photo by Peter Powell - Pool/Getty Images

Leeds United were well beaten by Leicester City at Elland Road by four goals to one, with Stuart Dallas scoring the only Leeds goal of the game.

Patrick Bamford should’ve had The Whites ahead in the first few minutes as he gets on the end of a free header on the edge of the six yard box from a Helder Costa cross. He should score, there are no two ways about it, but he puts the ball straight into the hands of former Leeds man Schmeichel.

As the replays swept off the screen, Harvey Barnes had an open goal to tap in to. Koch misplaced a pass before trying to recover in a challenge on the near touchline. The soaked pitch betrays him, holding up for Vardy to nip into the box and square it for an easy goal for Barnes.

Passing was slack from the home side, with Vardy and Barnes feeding off of loose passes and poor touches as they used the weather to their advantage. They caused the defence all sorts of problems and kept Meslier working as they always looked like scoring every time they went forward.

Leicester did double their lead after 20 minutes as Vardy beat a slipping Koch to a header which he does really well to get on target. Meslier parried it but Tielmans latched onto the rebound for yet another easy finish.

In another crucial moment Patrick Bamford couldn’t quite seize the moment as Leeds strung a couple nice passes between the Leicester lines with Ayling chipping a reverse pass into the feet of Bamford who couldn’t get a grip of the ball to strike from close range as a good chance went begging.

Leeds knew that the next goal was crucial, and they went out there in the second half and showed no fear as The Whites looked to fight their way back into the game.

And with a bit of luck, they did. A short corner was played to Dallas who sent a swinging cross with his right from the left side. It bounced up on the six yard line and nobody managed to get something on it, taking the keeper by surprise as the ball snuck into the far corner.

Leeds earned themselves a lifeline but their work was far from done as Pablo Hernandez struck the crossbar with a brilliant curling strike from the edge of the box having masterfully controlling a high clearance.

But it doesn’t matter how much of the ball you have; Jamie Vardy only needs a touch to show his class. Maddison turned well before finding Under on the right, he lifted the ball over the rushing keeper and Vardy was there to tap the ball in as they showed their electrifying quality once again.

Leicester were home and hosed by the time a penalty kick came around for Tielmans to nestle into the top left corner following a foul from Klich.

In the end it came down to the players who would be ruthless in the key moments of the game, and that was clearly Leicester. Bamford misses to great chances in crucial points for Leeds where they can take the lead or get back in the game. Hernandez was unlucky not to equalise and you can’t get more clinical than Jamie Vardy in The Premier League.

Leeds now look ahead to Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in yet another stern test for The Whites.