Match Recap: Leeds United 5-0 Stoke City

Leeds United took all three points at Elland Road against Stoke City, winning 5-0 as The Whites return to the top of the table.

Leeds started quickly, forcing a save within thirty seconds of play. Leeds pushed Stoke in possession before Tyler Roberts pounced on a poor clearance on the left-side. His curling strike from the corner of the box forced a nice save from Butland.

Bamford and Klich also had chances, the first coing from Bamford looking to spin onto the ball before taking a long-shot from twenty yards out, going closely high and wide. Then Klich received a pass on the inside, chopping past one defender before his strike was blocked by the centre-half, as Leeds looked to tighten their grip on the game in the first 20 minutes.

Leeds came very close to taking the lead just a couple minutes later, as a nice one-two between Bamford and Klich had the Leeds front-man through on goal. He lifted the ball over the keeper, with a deflection taking it toward the far corner. McLean cleared off the line before Roberts’ follow-up was blocked by two incoming defenders from either side.

Leeds kept pushing before making a breakthrough as half-time approached, as Costa was brought down on the edge of the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Mateusz Klich slotted the ball home coolly, sending the keeper the wrong way.

And as the second half commenced, Leeds doubled their advantage through Helder Costa. Stuart Dallas played a wonderful ball from the left side into Costa, who cut onto his right foot before poking the ball into the far corner on 48 minutes.

A wonderful team goal followed ten minutes later, playing from one side of the box to the other, with Pablo Hernandez playing as the focal point. He took the ball on the right side in all kinds of space before cutting in and finding Liam Cooper, whose finish went in off the near post.

Leeds continued to push and had chances to increase the lead before Hernandez got the fourth goal. Costa broke on the right side before cutting the ball toward the edge of the box, Bamford dummied the ball between Costa and Hernandez, who curled the ball into the right corner.

But Leeds weren’t done there, as Luke Ayling sent a great ball over the top from the right to the left side for Patrick Bamford, who let the ball prop up for him before hitting a wonderful strike from a tight angle, going in off both posts.

Leeds now look ahead to Sunday, as The Whites look to get another crucial victory with four games to go.