Leeds United made a dream return to the Premier League with a deserved 1-0 house victory over Everton at Elland Highway on Tuesday (AEST).
Leeds debutant Lukas Nmecha slotted house a assured penalty within the 84th minute to separate the groups after the officers discovered James Tarkowski responsible of handball following a deflected shot.
“That is a scandal. That is by no means a penalty,” former England worldwide Chris Sutton stated on the BBC.
Soccer has a brand new house. Stream the Premier League, FA Cup, J.League and NWSL stay & on demand, together with Premier League with 4K, from August 2025 on Stan Sport
However former Leeds star Michael Bridges noticed it in a different way on Stan Sport’s protection.
“You may see him lean into it. And he is attempting to get his chest up,” Bridges stated.
“I do know as a defender he is attempting to get his arm out of the way in which, nevertheless it has struck the arm and it’s a goal, and he was leaning in that course, attempting to get his chest to it.”
READ MORE: Goalkeeper’s ‘bluff’ known as in sneaky water bottle trick
READ MORE: Contained in the commentary sales space as stony-faced greats grappled disbelief
READ MORE: Slater warns of ‘harmful territory’ amid Grant furore
David Moyes at Elland Highway. Getty
Everton supervisor David Moyes had phrases with referee Chris Kavanagh – who awarded the penalty earlier than being checked by VAR – after the ultimate whistle.
Leeds had been promoted into the highest flight after profitable the Championship final season.
“They’ll be a power within the Premier League in the event that they hold taking part in like that,” Liverpool legend Michael Owen stated on Stan Sport’s protection.
The James Tarkowski hand ball. Stan
Manchester Metropolis star Jack Grealish made his Everton debut off the bench after being loaned out to the Liverpool membership.
The ahead, a poster boy of English soccer, is trying to reignite his profession however was unable to encourage Everton.
Grealish entered within the 71st minute when the rating was 0-0 and struggled to make an impression.
Jack Grealish of Everton runs with the ball while underneath strain from Daniel James of Leeds United. Getty
Leeds dominated the primary half in entrance of a raucous Elland Highway crowd, however wasted a bunch of possibilities to interrupt the impasse.
Everton, then again, didn’t muster a single shot, on or off beam, within the opening interval.
Tarkowski was filthy afterwards.
“Completely weird, weird,” he stated on Stan Sport’s protection.
“I all the time thought the rule was ‘arm in an unnatural place’, which it positively wasn’t. It was by my facet.
“So except they have a brand new rule about leaning to dam a ball, I do not know. But when that is the explanation to present it, I am unable to perceive it. I requested the referee on the pitch, ‘if my hand’s by my facet, is it a penalty?’, He stated ‘no’.
“He did not give it, the linesman provides it from 40 yards away. How one can see whether or not my arms are half an inch away or not from the place he stood, I do not know.
“Weird, weird resolution and I do not perceive why it has been given.
“Until I’ve to run round just like the European model, with my palms on my again… that is not one thing I am ever going to do as a result of it is not straightforward to maneuver like that.”
Lukas Nmecha of Leeds United celebrates after scoring a objective. Getty
Lukas Nmecha, a summer time signing solely on the sector for six minutes in its place, stroked the spot kick previous Jordan Pickford with simply his third contact of the ball.
Leeds was making its return to the Premier League after a two-year absence and was the second promoted group to win within the opening spherical, after Sunderland.
Everton, which didn’t have a shot on objective within the first half, will hope for a greater efficiency on Sunday when the group hosts Brighton for the primary aggressive sport in its new, 53,000-seat waterfront stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which has changed Goodison Park as Everton’s house.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke was a cheerful man after the game-defining resolution went his method.
“On area, it felt like a penalty within the second, maybe it was additionally a bit emotional with the roar of the stadium,” Farke stated.
“Lukas’ first two or three touches weren’t spot on – I used to be a bit nervous as a result of usually he is an impressive penalty taker.
Jordan Pickford of Everton. Getty
“I used to be overthinking if I ought to inform him at present it is maybe not the day to take a penalty. Thank God I did not step in. He was ice chilly and calm.”
For the previous two seasons the three groups which have come up from the Championship have gone straight again down, however this efficiency made Leeds seem like a group that might buck the pattern.
Joel Piroe introduced a fantastic early save out of Pickford, with the Dutch striker then twice going near an opener within the first half because the away facet toiled.
James Tarkowski of Everton reacts following a hand ball incident. Getty
It took till eight minutes into the second half for the guests to handle a shot at objective, Idrissa Gueye hammering an effort nicely excessive.
Leeds bought the objective their efforts warranted, even when Everton felt aggrieved over the penalty resolution.
“It isn’t a penalty,” Everton coach David Moyes stated.
“We did not play nicely sufficient on the evening, however the massive frustration is the referees have truly had a foul opening weekend. I simply do not know what the foundations are presupposed to be.”
– with Reuters and AP
