Leeds United 1-1 Brentford: Calvert-Lewin salvages draw after Schade stunner

  /  autty

Dominic Calvert-Lewin struck 11 minutes from time as Leeds United recovered from a poor first half to secure a 1-1 Premier League draw with Brentford on Sunday.

Brentford dominated the opening period and deservedly led when Kevin Schade flicked Keane Lewis-Potter's cross into the top-right corner in the 41st minute.

The half-time whistle was met by boos from the Elland Road faithful, so Daniel Farke made a tactical adjustment that paid dividends, with Leeds wresting control of the game back from the visitors and securing a point when Calvert-Lewin steered home from Lukas Nmecha's cross.

Brentford could have taken a commanding lead inside the opening 15 minutes, but Schade and Jaidon Anthony fluffed their lines before Mikkel Damsgaard fired straight at James Trafford.

Anton Stach cut out a cross from Schade with Anthony lurking at the back post, before Leeds were dealt a blow when Joe Rodon was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury.

Brentford got the goal their performance warranted when Schade got in front of his marker and flicked in a fantastic volley, but the second half played out in a different fashion thanks to Farke's switch to a four-man defence.

After James Justin tested Caoimhin Kelleher and Jayden Bogle avoided conceding a penalty for his challenge on Schade, Calvert-Lewin was in the right place at the right time to restore parity for the hosts.

Igor Thiago's header almost restored Brentford's advantage within two minutes, while Calvert-Lewin was denied in a one-on-one with Kelleher – although the offside flag meant it may not have counted anyway – as the spoils were shared.

A tale of two halves for Brentford

You could have been forgiven for thinking Brentford were the home team, so superior was their performance in the opening period.

The Bees had a 62.4% share of possession, 26 touches in the opposition box and 11 shots in the first half. Leeds, meanwhile, managed just three touches in Brentford's area and generated a cumulative expected goals (xG) value of 0.04 from their two efforts on goal.

But Farke putting an extra man in midfield for the second half made a big difference, with Brentford seeing their share of possession drop to 43.5% as Leeds forced their way back into the game.

It was Calvert-Lewin who drew them level, becoming the first Leeds player to score in four straight Premier League appearances at Elland Road since Mark Viduka in April 2004.

Calvert-Lewin now has four goals in his past six top-flight appearances against Brentford and is the only player to have scored in each of the last 11 Premier League seasons, a run that stretches back to 2016-17.

Farke's men now sit seventh with four points, the same as Brentford, who are fourth thanks to their superior goal difference.

Related: Leeds United Brentford Calvert-Lewin Kelleher
Download All Football for more comments