Match ends, Leeds United 2, Norwich City 1.
Leeds landed a first victory under manager Jesse Marsch in stunning fashion as Joe Gelhardt struck in injury time to beat relegation rivals Norwich and send Elland Road into raptures.
The 19-year-old substitute - on the pitch for less than two minutes - turned into an empty net from Raphinha's assist, serving a brutal blow to Norwich after they had finally levelled through Kenny McLean at the start of injury time.
The thrilling finale served up scenes of contrast as Leeds' fans jubilantly sang along to Kaiser Chiefs' 'I predict a riot' while Norwich players sat dejected on the turf.
Rodrigo's first-half goal had looked set be enough to see Leeds end a run of six games without a win but on a day where Raphinha twice struck the bar and where the impressive Daniel James went close, they almost paid for not taking their chances.
Norwich may point to Patrick Bamford appearing to be offside in the build-up to Rodrigo's opener and they also saw a penalty award overturned shortly before they equalised when referee Stuart Attwell visited the pitch-side monitor.
Ultimately they found a way to level, stunning the Leeds support, but Gelhardt's contribution moves Marsch's side four points above the relegation zone while Norwich stay bottom - five points from safety.
Marsch summed the finish up as "very frantic", adding: "I'd heard a lot about the magic of Elland Road and we felt that today."
Mayhem, joy and dejection
Gelhardt said his decisive goal delivered an "unbelievable feeling", while team-mate Stuart Dallas said "this is why you play football, for moments like this". Dean Smith's Norwich players wore a look of how key this remarkable finish may prove to their survival hopes.
Norwich's hopes of survival have been hindered greatly by what is now a six-game losing run, but none of them are likely to sting as much as this.
In the final moments Smith sent goalkeeper Tim Krul forward for a corner in search of another equaliser and striker Teemu Pukki forced a vital save from Illan Meslier in the kind of frenetic ending that pointed to what was at stake.
Marsch deserves credit for his role in the late mayhem as he moved to introduce Gelhardt for Mateusz Klich at a point where the life had been sucked out of the stadium.
When Raphinha rounded Krul the Brazilian was able to give Gelhardt a simple task to lift the gloom that had set in after a 3-0 midweek defeat to Aston Villa.
Against Villa, Leeds suffered the blow of losing four top-flight games in a row without scoring for the first time since March 1982.
It prompted Marsch to state "this is a business for men" and that the way out of relegation trouble would be paved with "courage and belief".
They showed plenty early on as Rodrigo drilled home via a deflection, Raphinha volleyed against the bar and Pascal Struijk turned over from close range after seeing an initial header saved.
Rodrigo's goal did not come without controversy as a long ball in the build-up was pursued by Bamford, who appeared offside.
The striker - making his first start since September - was chasing the ball but did not make a challenge, as a poor headed clearance allowed the energetic James to tee up Rodrigo.
James whipped an effort at goal after the break to prompt a superb save and Raphinha's sublime free-kick hit the bar before Norwich started their late push. Milot Rashica went down in the box under the challenge of Luke Ayling but the penalty awarded was overturned when replays showed the Norwich player had stood on Ayling's leg.
To their credit, Norwich refused to let the blow slow their momentum and their leveller was beautifully worked, with Pukki getting on the end of a fine long diagonal pass to fire a cross into the six-yard box for McLean to turn home.
A draw might have been harsh on Leeds, who showed more energy than their visitors in the final third and ultimately created the better chances.
Norwich are now increasingly staring at the prospect of relegation.
Smith put three games without defeat together when he was appointed in November and another three-game run of form helped their cause in January. They will need to show character and find more than a pocket of good form after this harsh ending.
Leeds, by contrast, will surely be filled with survival optimism.
Player of the match
GelhardtJoe Gelhardt
Leeds United
Avg
- Squad number30Player nameGelhardtAverage rating
8.79
- Squad number19Player nameRodrigoAverage rating
7.45
- Squad number10Player nameRaphinhaAverage rating
7.41
- Squad number20Player nameJamesAverage rating
7.35
- Squad number15Player nameDallasAverage rating
7.11
- Squad number9Player nameBamfordAverage rating
6.94
- Squad number1Player nameMeslierAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number22Player nameHarrisonAverage rating
6.84
- Squad number4Player nameForshawAverage rating
6.83
- Squad number14Player nameLlorenteAverage rating
6.82
- Squad number21Player nameStruijkAverage rating
6.82
- Squad number43Player nameKlichAverage rating
6.79
- Squad number2Player nameAylingAverage rating
6.67
- Squad number5Player nameKochAverage rating
6.56
Norwich City
Avg
- Squad number46Player nameRoweAverage rating
5.08
- Squad number8Player nameGilmourAverage rating
4.99
- Squad number22Player namePukkiAverage rating
4.86
- Squad number1Player nameKrulAverage rating
4.69
- Squad number21Player nameWilliamsAverage rating
4.60
- Squad number17Player nameRashicaAverage rating
4.59
- Squad number23Player nameMcLeanAverage rating
4.54
- Squad number16Player nameNormannAverage rating
4.45
- Squad number24Player nameSargentAverage rating
4.35
- Squad number2Player nameAaronsAverage rating
4.29
- Squad number15Player nameKabakAverage rating
4.28
- Squad number7Player nameRuppAverage rating
4.27
- Squad number20Player nameLees-MelouAverage rating
4.24
- Squad number4Player nameGibsonAverage rating
3.66
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Meslier
- 2AylingBooked at 26mins
- 14Llorente
- 21Struijk
- 15Dallas
- 43KlichSubstituted forGelhardtat 90+2'minutes
- 4Forshaw
- 20JamesBooked at 77mins
- 19RodrigoSubstituted forKochat 60'minutes
- 10Raphinha
- 9BamfordSubstituted forHarrisonat 45'minutesBooked at 71mins
Substitutes
- 5Koch
- 13Klaesson
- 22Harrison
- 26Bate
- 30Gelhardt
- 35Cresswell
- 38Summerville
- 42Greenwood
- 46Shackleton
Norwich
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Krul
- 2AaronsBooked at 77minsSubstituted forGilmourat 88'minutes
- 15Kabak
- 4Gibson
- 21Williams
- 7RuppSubstituted forNormannat 45'minutes
- 20Lees-Melou
- 23McLean
- 24SargentSubstituted forRoweat 62'minutes
- 22Pukki
- 17Rashica
Substitutes
- 8Gilmour
- 10Dowell
- 11Placheta
- 16Normann
- 19Sørensen
- 28Gunn
- 30Giannoulis
- 40Tomkinson
- 46Rowe
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
- Attendance:
- 36,321
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Leeds United 2, Norwich City 1.
Post update
Attempt saved. Teemu Pukki (Norwich City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tim Krul with a through ball.
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Foul by Jack Harrison (Leeds United).
Post update
Ozan Kabak (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Leeds United 2, Norwich City 1. Joe Gelhardt (Leeds United) left footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Raphinha.
Post update
Foul by Robin Koch (Leeds United).
Post update
Brandon Williams (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Milot Rashica (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Jack Harrison.
Substitution
Substitution, Leeds United. Joe Gelhardt replaces Mateusz Klich.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jack Harrison (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Luke Ayling.
Goal!
Goal! Leeds United 1, Norwich City 1. Kenny McLean (Norwich City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Teemu Pukki with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Daniel James (Leeds United).
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Pierre Lees-Melou (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Billy Gilmour replaces Max Aarons.
Post update
Foul by Jack Harrison (Leeds United).
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Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jack Harrison (Leeds United).
Post update
Max Aarons (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Chaotic Elland road, end to end drama, cards, carry on and last minute winner.
Yep, its Leeds United.
This just might save them for the season
Can’t say any team don’t deserve to go down but I don’t think anyone really wants to see Leeds go down
Good luck for the rest of the season
never been more relieved at the end of a game.
Crucial with Watford getting the three points too.
KEEP FIGHTING