Leeds United ended a run of six consecutive Premier League defeats with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Norwich City at Elland Road.
Joe Gelhardt netted a 94th minute winner for the Whites, who after missing several chances to put the game to bed, were pegged back just moments earlier through Kenny McLean’s goal.
Rodrigo Moreno handed Leeds the lead early in the first half and the game should’ve been out of sight by the break.
But in typical Leeds style the win was earned in crazy circumstances to hand Jesse Marsch his first as Whites manager.
Here is how the national media reported the game.
‘Marsch deserves credit’
Luke Reddy of BBC Sport said: “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".”
‘From Hail Mary to hallelujah’
Craig Hope of the Daily Mail said: “To borrow American sporting parlance, it felt like Jesse Marsch was readying his team for a Hail Mary when, in the 92nd minute and with Leeds having just conceded a stadium-deflating equaliser, he threw on teenage forward Joe Gelhardt rather than settle for a tie. What a God-like intervention it proved to be.
“Within 90 seconds, Gelhardt - all 5ft 9in of him - was out-jumping Norwich centre-back Ben Gibson to flick on goalkeeper Illan Meslier’s hopeful punt downfield.
“Gelhardt's unlikely header found Raphinha and it looked as if those home prayers were about to be answered when he skipped by Brandon Williams and raced through on Tim Krul’s goal.
“The locals were just about to sink back into their pews as Krul forced Raphinha wide. But then, from the by-line and on his weaker right foot, the Brazilian conjured the canniest of hooks into the six-yard area. And there was Gelhardt, the stocky little kid with a tuck-shop grin helping himself to the sweetest of strikes. From Hail Mary to hallelujah.
“It was, it should be noted, Gelhardt’s first goal at Elland Road. Not that this was about statistics or any significance attached to them. Rather, it was about a moment in time. A moment to send the mercury rising and bodies tumbling.
“Marsch, airborne on the touchline, looked more like an NBA star with a slam-dunk salute. But for Leeds, a three-pointer at last, two months on from their previous victory.”
‘Elland Road was shaking’
Oscar Paul of the Sun said: “THERE would have been a riot in Leeds if they’d only come away with one point.
“Instead, thanks to super-sub Joe Gelhardt’s incredible late goal, West Yorkshire was left rocking to the Kaiser Chiefs’ hit song.
“As ‘I Predict a Riot’ blared out, Elland Road was shaking.
“New boss Jesse Marsch was jumping up and down like a madman, completely swept away by the scenes.
“Norwich’s dejected players were laid out in devastation, with the party just getting started.
“A win over the Canaries is hardly cause for celebration, but this may just be the win Leeds look back on as the one that kept them up.
“Kenny McLean’s 91st-minute equaliser after Rodrigo’s early opener produced scenes befitting of a morgue given how many gilt-edged chances the hosts had butchered.
“Heads were down everywhere you looked as the real prospect of relegation started to bite.
“Marsch then sent on Gelhardt, 19, to rescue them - and seconds later he did just that.”
