Daniel Farke often talks about Leeds United as a highly emotional club and the wild scenes greeting Joel Piroe’s dramatic late winner proved he was once again on the right track.
Preston were set for a point after a dogged, spirited display had left Leeds and their supporters bitterly frustrated.
But then, in the fourth minute of extra time, and as three points seemed to be slipping through Farke’s fingers, the ball bounced up and hit Ryan Ledson’s right arm.
Referee David Webb pointed to the penalty spot and Piroe, a substitute in the 76th minute, kept his composure and fired the ball past Dai Cornell in front of the Don Revie Stand.
Watch for delirium. Piroe ran towards the corner flag and was mobbed by teammates and supporters, while the entire Leeds bench jumped joyfully in the air on the pitch.
Joel Piroe scored a dramatic winner from the penalty spot in the 94th minute
As a result, Leeds United won the championship game 2-1 on Sunday
Daniel Farke’s team stayed on the line until the 90+5 minute of the match on Sunday
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It said a lot about the meaning of victory.
Preston had defeated Leeds 2-1 at Deepdale on Boxing Day and fought again in a playful manner.
But Farke’s men certainly cannot be described as unworthy winners and are the only club in the EFL to have lost on home soil this season.
The German has successfully harnessed the desire and energy of a fanbase and a city and has given the Yorkshire giants genuine hope of an immediate return to the Premier League.
Leeds’ form at Elland Road – ten wins and four draws – will certainly provide the foundation for any further success they can achieve.
Farke, who has guided Norwich to promotion from the Championship twice in the last five seasons as title winners, said with a big smile: “These are the best wins of the season.
‘They determine the season and are also good for the atmosphere and confidence in the dressing room.
‘We have had many exciting home performances with many goals and some games were finished at half-time.
“To win this kind of match, with a well-deserved winner in the last seconds, I’m quite happy.”
North End boss Ryan Lowe felt Webb had let the public influence his decision.
He also claimed that Alan Browne had been fouled by Leeds defender Joe Rodon just before the penalty was awarded.
Lowe, a keen Liverpool fan who had been standing on the far corner of Elland Road, said angrily: ‘I’m going to see him (Webb).
‘He’s a good guy Webby, normally he’s decent enough, but it wasn’t just me complaining about some of the decisions and yellow cards; it was also their manager.
‘Do I expect an apology? I would like one and I finally asked him for it.
‘The audience plays a big role – the twelfth man – and wow, at one point I couldn’t hear myself talking anymore.
‘If that is VAR in the championship, that is not given.
‘But I’ve been to Elland Road as a fan and I know what the pressure is like here.
Will Keane opened the scoring in the second minute of the match to give Preston the lead
Daniel James found the back of the net to level the scores after just six minutes of action
Things started to heat up between the two sides as they battled each other for 100 minutes
“I’ve seen decisions made here for many, many years and this is another one.”
Preston led in the second minute when Leeds failed to clear a free kick and Will Keane fired in from close range.
However, the hosts equalized four minutes later when a fine move culminated in Dan James heading home a delightful left cross from Junior Firpo.
Preston came close to coming within a second when Illan Meslier saved Liam Millar’s fierce left-foot shot before Georginio Rutter headed over as half-time approached.
During the break, Leeds fan Luke Humphries paraded around the pitch with his PDC World Championship trophy.
After the break, Rutter hit the outside of a post and a match with ten bookings became increasingly difficult.
However, Leeds were not to be denied thanks to Piroe’s twelfth goal of the season.
Farke said: “It was important that Joel gave the signal that he was ready as he is one of our best finishers, if not the best.
‘Normally he is freezing in these situations and when he made the signal I was sure he would score. Thank God he repaid my trust.”
That Leeds player Jaidon Anthony – an unused substitute – had lost his mother earlier in the week added to the emotion in the home camp.
Farke, whose players wore black armbands as a mark of respect, added: “We are one family at Leeds United and we dedicate the win to Jaidon and his family.”