Watford 2-2 Leeds: Sub Mateo Joseph bundles home late equaliser but visitors miss chance to reclaim top spot… with Vakoun Bayo and Emmanuel Dennis scoring in the first-half for Hornets
- Bayo and Dennis scored for the hosts either side of Summerville’s super attack
- Sub Joseph scored the equalizer a minute after coming on for Leeds
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Leeds had boss Daniel Farke to thank after keeping their unbeaten record intact for 2024 and their promotion on course, with a late equalizer from super sub Mateo Joseph last night.
Farke’s men were ruthless in winning 12 of their 13 league games this calendar year but looked on course for a first defeat since December against a resurgent Watford.
Vakoun Bayo and Emmanuel Dennis scored for the hosts either side of Crysencio Summerville’s excellent equalizer.
But Farke sent on 20-year-old Joseph and scored the equalizer a minute after coming on, leaving Leeds just one point behind leaders Ipswich and ahead of Leicester in a promotion that was going down to the wire.
It was a disappointment for Hornets caretaker Tom Cleverley, but he has four points from two games since replacing Valerien Ismael and is making a compelling case to be given the job permanently.
Willy Gnonto’s absence through injury presented Dan James with the opportunity to end one of the toughest weeks of his career on a high, after the winger’s missed penalty cost his country a place at the 2024 European Championship.
However, James was quiet early and chances were few and far between until Bayo shot Watford ahead in the 31st minute, volleying in the rebound after Illan Meslier made a great leap to deny Dennis.
Summerville provided Leeds’ response, curling brilliantly into the far corner after cutting in from the left. Dennis restored the hosts’ lead with a beauty of his own. A mirror image of Summerville’s equalizer, the Nigerian danced in from the right flank and fired past Meslier.
Summerville posed a constant threat to Leeds and came close to another equalizer after the break.
But instead it was super sub Joseph who found the leveler and finished from close range just after being sent through.
Fellow substitute Jaidon Anthony almost made it 3-2 shortly afterwards, but Farke will have to settle for second place – at least until Easter Monday.
