Leeds United marked their return to the Premier League after a two-year absence with a deserved 1-0 victory over Everton at Elland Road. Lukas Nmecha scored a dramatic penalty in the 84th minute to crown his debut in magnificent style and spark wild celebrations among the home support.
The German striker held his nerve after James Tarkowski's handball gave referee Chris Kavanagh little choice but to point to the spot. Nmecha calmly slotted past Jordan Pickford to vindicate Daniel Farke's faith in his new signing and secure three crucial points on a vociferous evening in West Yorkshire.
The victory came after Carlos Alcaraz slipped in possession inside his own half, allowing Anton Stach to get a shot away that deflected onto Tarkowski's arm. VAR upheld Kavanagh's penalty decision, giving the substitute striker the perfect opportunity to mark his Premier League debut.
Complete territorial dominance
Leeds were the superior side throughout the evening, creating numerous chances but struggling to find the breakthrough until that crucial moment. The hosts dominated possession and territorial advantage, with Everton managing minimal threat throughout the contest.
Daniel Farke handed debuts to three players in his starting lineup, with goalkeeper Lucas Perri, defender Gabriel Gudmundsson and midfielder Anton Stach all impressing. Jordan Pickford was forced into several saves, denying Joël Piroe after a James Tarkowski error and later reacting smartly to a Gudmundsson effort.
The chances kept coming from set plays, with Ao Tanaka coming close to heading in the opener from a well-worked corner. Pascal Struijk flashed another corner across goal while the hosts recycled possession with relentless energy, creating an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors.
Everton's disappointing display
The visitors offered little in response throughout the contest, with new signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and striker Beto isolated for long periods. David Moyes will reflect on a frustrating evening that saw his side barely threaten the Leeds goal.
Jack Harrison, returning to Leeds after his loan spell at Everton, was met with boos from the home support when he exchanged pleasantries with his former teammates. His first Leeds appearance for two years drew more boos when introduced as a substitute late in the game.
The most notable Everton moment came when Tim Iroegbunam was booked for a late tackle on Ethan Ampadu that left the Leeds captain requiring treatment. According to Independent, this result continues an encouraging trend for newly-promoted sides this season, suggesting the three promoted teams may not be the foregone relegation candidates many predicted.
Sources used: "PA Media", "Guardian", "Independent", "Yorkshire Post", "Leeds Live" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.