ELLAND ROAD
OKAFOR OFF THE BENCH TO SINK SPURS
Substitute strikes two minutes after coming on as Leeds finally break De Zerbi's side
LEEDS 1 (Noah Okafor 79) TOTTENHAM 0
Daniel Farke went to his bench and his bench delivered. Noah Okafor had been on the pitch for barely two minutes when he settled a tight lunchtime contest at Elland Road, and Leeds had the win their second-half pressure deserved.
The goal came from a throw-in Tottenham never dealt with. The ball dropped inside the Spurs penalty area, nobody stepped up to clear it, and Okafor was quickest to it, taking a touch to make room before hammering his finish past Antonin Kinsky on 79 minutes. Harry Wilson, who came on alongside him, was credited with the assist. Okafor was booked a minute later for his celebration, a price he will gladly pay.
The first half was a stand-off, with only six shots between the sides. Leeds started brighter, pressing every Spurs touch, and Spurs survived a VAR check for handball when a cross struck an arm that was judged to be above the sleeve line. The visitors grew into it before the break, but neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled and it was goalless at half-time.
The second half belonged to the home side. Ao Tanaka blazed over after a slick counter-attack, and Roberto De Zerbi was booked for dissent six minutes after the restart. Spurs' only real moment came on 69 minutes, when substitute Conor Gallagher let fly from outside the box and went inches wide.
The win lifts Leeds after last week's 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth and halts Spurs, who arrived on the back of wins over Chelsea and Crystal Palace.