Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier has found himself in the spotlight after a crucial mistake led to Sunderland’s stoppage-time equalizer in their 2-2 draw. While the error cost Leeds valuable points, one pundit isn’t laying all the blame on the Frenchman for the result.
Chris Rigg got the home side off to a strong start, scoring just nine minutes in to give his team a 1-0 lead. But the Whites quickly answered back, with Joël Piroe equalizing in the 22nd minute.
The teams went into the break tied at 1-1. Leeds then took the lead early in the second half when Junior Firpo found the net in the 56th minute, a goal that seemed likely to secure the win. However, in the final moments of stoppage time, Illan Meslier’s costly error allowed Sunderland to snatch a late equalizer.
Alan Browne’s cross deflected off Firpo’s head, and as Meslier reached for the ball, it slipped through his fingers and rolled into the net, earning Sunderland a vital point.
Illan Meslier isn’t the only player at fault for the disastrous draw
While most of the blame is going toward Meslier, and rightfully so, one pundit is also including another player as to why the Whites couldn’t leave the Stadium of Light on Friday night with all three points.
Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds after the match, Jon Newsome said Brenden Aaronson should have done better with that scoring opportunity to secure an insurance goal, which would have prevented Meslier’s mistake from becoming an issue.
“You look at the game back in it’s entirety, and you even look at the second half, the chance that Brenden Aaronson had towards the end, to me it’s a pass. Just pass it into the goal or lay Willy Gnonto in,” Newsome said (h/t LeedsUnited.News).
“Little things like that where I feel we have to be more clinical. If Leeds are going to get automatic promotion this season, when they are on top, they’re dominating the game and creating chances, they have to be more clinical at the top end of the pitch.”
Aaronson will be playing with the United States national team during the FIFA window, so he’ll have a distraction to distract him from this Leeds draw against Sunderland.
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