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Brenden Aaronson delivers winning goal in Leeds United’s road victory

Brenden Aaronson left a major mark in his first EFL Championship start of the 2024-25 season.

Aaronson scored the winning goal in Leeds United’s 2-0 road victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Friday night at Hillsborough. It marked Aaronson’s second goal of the campaign and his fourth overall in Leeds United colors.

“It feels really good, I am happy with the team, happy with the win, and the all-around performance I thought was good,” Aaronson said postmatch. “It’s always good to get a goal, especially in the position that I play in. You want to create and score goals so tonight was really good for me.

“I’m a guy that is always going to work for the team most of all, I’m going to press without the ball but with the ball I want to score goals, get assists, that is the biggest thing for me this season by helping the team,” he added.

After overcoming early pressure from the host Owls, Leeds United struck first in the 28th minute. Daniel James’ flicked pass allowed the Lilywhites to counter upfield before Aaronson raced into the box and slotted home a loose ball.

Mateo Joseph was tackled in the box but Aaronson finished up the play with a confident left-footed strike.

Daniel James doubled Leeds United’s lead early in the second half after Joseph’s through ball pass allowed the Welsh winger to race in towards goal. James’ chipped effort snuck in the bottom corner for a 2-0 Leeds advantage and one they wouldn’t let slip away on the road.

Leeds United would claim their first road win of the new season as Sheffield United suffered its second-straight defeat.

Aaronson, who was subbed off before the final whistle, was applauded by the traveling support for his hardworking shift in midfield. After spending last season away on loan in Germany, the 24-year-old has been one of the bright spots through the opening three weeks this summer.

“It was tough coming back, there were a lot of nerves, and I was unsure at times, but I couldn’t have asked for the reception that I have gotten,” Aaronson said. “The guys in the team have welcomed me back and I think they [the fans] know that I am going to give everything I have for the team.”

“He had an unbelievable work rate against the ball, he was flexible in the midfield and obviously the goal was important for him,” manager Daniel Farke said about Aaronson. “He started the season a bit tough because he arrived during the middle of preseason but it’s been an excellent start for him so well done for Brenden.”

The Lilywhites next host Hull City at Elland Road on August 31 in its final match before the September international window.

Comments

  1. No one is going to talk about the elephant in the room. How does one score the winning goal in the ‘11 when there was another goal in the ‘48? There were several articles last year with Sargent scoring the winning goal stuff. How does one go from scoring the 1st goal in a game, to the winning goal, when multiple goals are scored after? LJ, what’s really going on?

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    • I’m assuming Larry is using the formula MLB used to use for game winning RBI. Whoever scores the goal that puts you ahead for the final time. Since even if James doesn’t score Leeds still wins because of Aaronson’s goal. That means Brendon’s is the “game winner”.

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    • The score is 1-1 and you score to make it 2-1.

      If your team goes on to win you scored the winning goal.

      If they come back and equalize at 2-2 and then you come back and make it 3-2 then again you scored the winning goal. If your team then scores another 3 goals it doesn’t matter as long as the other guys don’t score another goal. You are the guy who made the difference.

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  2. Looks like Jamaica is getting a new attacking player. Mason Greenwood has filed to switch from England to Jamaica. That team is going to be stacked in attack.

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      • With Mexico, USA, and Canada out of the way for qualifying this is their best chance to get back to World Cup. They are willing to take a risk on Greenwood and his questionable past whereas England was clearly not going to be. Steve McClaren is the new manager and he hasn’t won anything in 15 years. We’ll see if the federation can keep their eyes on the prize and stay out of it, but they’re known for mismanagement and meddling. The Jamaican Fed is run by club owners who are looking out for their bottom line not NT success.

    • They have been saying that every time a Jamaican dual realizes that they aren’t going to be playing for England or some other big boy country.

      If you research that list, over the years, it is pretty long and pretty impressive.

      The problem is, as others have noted, their FA is pretty awful and are a real turn off. Which is too bad because if they ever got their act together for an extended period of time, and successfully recruited a higher percentage of their potential duals, they could give Mexico and the USMNT a run for their money.

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  3. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but he seemed to be showing a lot better last season and I have this feeling this could be a breakout season for him.

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    • It’s the Red Bull logo on his shirt.

      He thinks he’s back in Salzburg.

      If Brenden gets back to anything like his best here it really makes me wonder about Jesse.

      Jesse has waxed lyrical about how BA is the most coachable player who ever lived.
      So who was BA’s coach when he sucked so bad at Leeds the first time?

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    • I thought he did a much better job of staying on his feet. Whether he just got stronger or if he simply decided to not go down so often, it will help his success.

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  4. Excellent hungry run and reward for being in the right spot! Should have gotten the initial pass with all that space he created

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    • Doesn’t say much about the defenders that not one but two guys had beat the backline and were in position to receive that through-ball, though. I’d have been reaming one of my teams up and down for a bust like that. Still, he was Johnny-on-the-spot and he held his nerve and coolly finished when the ball fell to him.

      Aaronson’s not the $30 million player Jesse Marsch and Leeds once thought he was, but he’s a very good player. The Championship and MLS are about dead even now in terms of spending per squad – actually, MLS was ever-so-slightly ahead of the Championship terms of average-payroll-per-team, though that may change by the end of the transfer window. So it’s really not a surprise Aaronson’s excelling against that level, though as brutally physical as the Championship is, you wonder if he’ll make it through the season since collision radar is not one of his strong suits.

      Still think his best fit is probably Serie A. He’s technical, selfless, assignment-conscious, and very coachable, and can fill a whole bunch of roles, and I think Italian coaches would like him since it’s arguably the most tactical league in the world and he’s a tactical coach’s dream.

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