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Joe Donnohue

Leeds United coach reveals rivalry which fuelled U23s win over Liverpool saluted by hidden teammates

Leeds United's U23 side got back to winning ways with an emphatic, but hard-fought 3-0 win over Liverpool U23s at Elland Road on Monday evening.

The young Whites were cheered on by 8,656 home supporters who occupied sections of the West and East Stands.

Crysencio Summerville's first-half effort was parried into the path of Jack Jenkins who reacted quickest to prod home and give Leeds the advantage heading into the break.

Then, in the second half, Leeds weathered the storm shortly after the restart and were rewarded with two penalties in the closing ten minutes.

Max Dean and Dutch winger Summerville combined first, with the former threading a well-timed through-ball for the flighty right-sided wideman to latch onto. Summerville bore down on goal and was ajudged to have been impeded by Liverpool captain Owen Beck who was at the 20-year-old's heels.

Replays indicated Summerville may have been rather fortunate to receive the decision, but nevertheless dispatched of the spot-kick following Beck's dismissal.

Six minutes later, Summerville was felled once more, this time by Leighton Clarkson inside the penalty area.

There were no doubts about the awarding of the second penalty, which boyhood Everton fan Max Dean stepped up to take as Summerville received treatment for a knock to his shin.

Dean planted his spot-kick in the same corner as Summerville moments earlier and raced off towards the John Charles Stand where he celebrated in front of teammate Lewis Bate, hidden within the crowd.

Bate shared a video of Dean's penalty kick from his vantage point amongst supporters, while Joe Gelhardt shared a picture on social media sat within the Directors' Box at Elland Road earlier in the game.

Speaking after the match, U23s Lead Development Coach Mark Jackson told LeedsLive that Summerville and Dean had engaged in a friendly feud prior to the game, regarding who would take responsibility for spot-kicks.

"They both had a penalty each in training because they were both arguing over who would take the penalties if we got one.

"Deano stuck one virtually top corner and then Crysencio stepped up and put it actually in the top corner, so I think he got the nod on the first one.

"I never thought they were going to miss their penalties, they've got really good composure.

"I don't mind who scores, joking aside, as long as we get the win," Jackson added jovially.

His side moved out of the relegation places in Premier League 2 Division 1 with a win and crucially closed the gap on Liverpool to three points.

The Whites' next U23s fixture is next Monday February 14 against Mansfield Town in the Premier League Cup, where qualification for the knockout rounds is at stake.

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