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Nmecha Holds His Nerve to Crown Leeds' Raucous Return to Big Time
The Guardian
|August 19, 2025
Leeds United marked their return to the Premier League with an accomplished victory as Lukas Nmecha's late penalty ensured a timid performance from Everton ultimately got what it deserved.
No promoted team won until October last season, but after Sunderland's victory against West Ham on Saturday, Daniel Farke's men made it two from three with a result few could argue against.
Leeds were magnificent but looked as though they would have to settle for a point before James Tarkowski's handball with seven minutes left handed Nmecha a chance to mark his debut in style. He duly obliged to spark wild scenes inside Elland Road and suggest that the notion of the three promoted teams heading back down may not be a forgone conclusion this season.
In contrast, David Moyes will reflect on this night with great frustration. Everton did not get going all evening and barely mustered a chance of note as their season began with a real whimper. Elland Road will play a huge role in Leeds' survival hopes this season and on a vociferously loud evening in West Yorkshire, they started in style.
Farke handed out three debuts in his first lineup of the season, with goalkeeper Lucas Perri, defender Gabriel Gudmundsson, and midfielder Anton Stach all starting. And the hosts were much the brighter of the two sides in the opening half hour, with everything but a goal to show for some fine work.
This story is from the August 19, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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