Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier produces one of the all-time HOWLERS to gift Sunderland a 97th minute equaliser – but did the ball hit an object on the pitch?
Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier caused jubilation on Friday evening when he gifted Sunderland an equalizer deep into injury time of both sides’ championship match.
Daniel Farke’s team headed to the Stadium of Light hoping to top the second division, with a win potentially seeing them overtake their opponents in the standings.
They certainly looked close to doing so when they went 2-1 up in the final few moments of the match, a result that would have put them level on points with the Black Cats and one behind in terms of goals scored goals.
But goalkeeper Meslier was responsible for a mistake that will certainly go down in history when he conceded the equalizer just seconds into the match.
The Leeds players were left with their heads in their hands as they watched their No.1s as Sunderland celebrated a result that could prove invaluable amid the battle for promotion.
Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier produced one of all-time goals to cost Leeds a crucial win over Sunderland
The Frenchman appeared to have control of the ball in the penalty area as it came towards him, but he sidestepped it and went into the goal
Meslier appeared to move closer and pick up an object in his six-yard area after the goal went in
It was Alan Browne who claimed the goal, with the Irish midfielder’s hopeful pass looking as if it would float gently into Meslier’s arms.
Instead, however, the Frenchman tried to grab the ball and saw it escape his clutches as he scrambled back to try and keep it out on a second attempt.
It was too little too late, however, and Sunderland’s players rode off in celebration as Meslier looked at the turf.
The 24-year-old could be seen picking up an obscure object from the ground in the aftermath, with it unclear whether the ball had hit it as it bounced before he arrived to collect it.
He appeared to demonstrate frustration as Sky Sports co-commentator Don Goodman described the howler as “right up there” in terms of all-time mistakes.
βIt’s a gift, it’s a gift,β Goodman added. ‘You can’t legislate for it. If you’re from Leeds, how on earth can you legislate for something like this?’
After the match, Browne told Sky Sports: ‘I turned around thinking the boys would be mad at me after I hit him. Then the keeper put it in the net, so fair play to him.
“I’m almost ashamed, but I’ll say it anyway.”
He was seen apparently demonstrating to his teammates that he felt the ball had changed direction
A win would have put Leeds level with Sunderland at the top of the league, behind only on goals scored
Fans took to social media to share their thoughts on the goal, with Meslier taking the blame despite the seemingly mysterious object on the pitch.
βThe worst goalkeeping you will ever see from Meslier,β one fan posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Another said: ‘I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say this is Illan Meslier’s last game for the club.’
A third wrote: ‘I would make Meslier catch 10,000 balls in a dark room as punishment. What the hell happened there?’
Meslier was also criticized for apparently laughing full-time with Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris, who was his coach at Lorient in France.
Meslier has made a total of 184 appearances since joining Leeds from the French club in 2019 and was a regular in their squad as they were relegated from the Premier League in the 2022-2023 season.
When asked about his former player ahead of the game, Le Bris said: “I like the person and the player, but I hope he picks the ball out of his net.”
After the match he said: ‘I’m happy for us, but not happy for him. We talked about the action after the game. He said the ball changed direction when it hit the ground and he was surprised. Anyone can make a mistake, but he is still a very good goalkeeper.
‘Football is always unpredictable. We cannot foresee this kind of mistake, but we persevered until the end so that it was possible.β
Meslier was also criticized for apparently laughing alongside Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris (pictured), who was his coach in France
Leeds’ Daniel Farke, meanwhile, said the end of the match was ‘heartbreaking and terrible’
Leeds boss Farke admitted: ‘It’s heartbreaking and devastating to lose two points like this. I have won and lost many points in the last second, but I have not experienced anything like that in thirty years in professional football. We are so sad for the boys.
‘Normally the goalkeeper picks up the ball, clears it away, the referee blows the final whistle and the match is won. Pascal Struijk said that the ball bounced and jumped completely in the other direction because there was a marking on the field. But I can’t tell you if that was the case.’
Leeds now sit third in the table going into the remainder of the weekend’s matches two places ahead of West Brom and Sheffield United.
They could be in eighth place by the time the games are over, while Sunderland remain top but could be overtaken by Burnley, Sheffield United and West Brom depending on results.