Brenden Aaronson’s first match back at Elland Road could very well serve as a kickstart to a strong campaign with Leeds United.
Aaronson came off the bench to score a 95th minute equalizer in Leeds United’s 3-3 EFL Championship draw with Portsmouth. The U.S. men’s national team midfielder spent all of last season on loan with Union Berlin but christened his return to West Yorkshire with a bang, helping the Lilywhites earn one point.
Newly promoted Portsmouth held their own against Daniel Farke’s men, holding a 2-1 advantage at halftime. Elias Sorensen and Callum Lang both scored to flip the scoreline in Portsmouth’s favor after Pascal Struijk’s 10th minute penalty-kick opener.
Wilfried Gnonto tied the match one minute into the second half, but it wouldn’t be the end of the scoring at Elland Road.
Lang’s 92nd minute penalty kick looked to have given Portsmouth a 3-2 victory in stoppage time, but Aaronson had the final say three minutes later.
Joel Piroe’s through ball pass into the Portsmouth box allowed Aaronson to pick up possession before turning and drilling a low shot into the bottom-left corner. It marked Aaronson’s first goal for the club since August 2022.
Even after tying the match, Aaronson had a golden opportunity to win it off the ensuing restart but missed from point-blank range after being left wide open in the box.
Leeds United had to settle for one point at home in its season opener, with Aaronson receiving a major confidence boost in his first match back. The 23-year-old won three duels, drew one foul, and completed one dribble attempt.
“For me it was a crazy that he missed this chance, but you have to remember he is a young player that is desperate to prove his worth,” Farke said about Aaronson postmatch. “He had a fantastic finish to equalize for us but the road back is never easy, you can’t just come back and press a button and score two goals. He should’ve been the hero today but I thought he came in and did well, I think there will be more opportunities for him to shine.”
The Lilywhites will next host Middlesbrough on Wednesday in the first round of the EFL Cup.
Aaronson was lively and dangerous in his short time in, the goal to tie and salvage a point was huge. 100%, his miss of a game winner and so close to an instant redemption story was rather painful & disappointing but the keeper was in good position so it wasn’t a complete gimme. Considering how many wasted chances the entire team had, the commentary, headlines singling him out seem rather disproportionate, but… final seconds of a game carry more weight in ones memory and… Leeds being Leeds. For a supporters whose battlecry is MOT/Marching on together, they sure do their best to tear down, break the spirit of their own. Unless your name is Bamford apparently.
” final seconds of a game carry more weight in ones memory and… Leeds being Leeds.”
The USMNT should have been massacred by Belgium in the 2014 but by some miracle, Wondo, with a few minutes to go, was left with a chance to win the game with a so called sitter ( it was actually a pretty tough chance). He missed and was crucified. He’ll always be notorious for that miss.
Point being, it is unfair but, in terms of notoriety and the anger of the fans, it matters WHEN you miss. Leeds fans don’t have a monopoly on that.
BA did get the equalizer… but then he missed a chance, apparently a very easy one, to get three points. It’s early but the two points that Leeds dropped, could well be the difference between Leeds getting promoted or not.
And it may be unfair but it matters WHO does the missing. BA cost Leeds about 30 million and Leeds fans don’t feel like they got their money’s worth. So BA has a smaller margin of error than other players. It would have been great for all concerned if the Germans had decided to keep him but that ship has spilt under the bridge.
He’ll keep getting his chances for now because:
* Farke just said he would.
* They have until August 30th to figure out if they can get something out of him
or offload him
* His player rating for this game was a 7 , the highest of any Leeds player.
”final seconds of a game carry more weight in ones memory and… Leeds being Leeds.”
Yeah… that’s why I included that in my comment. It very much does matter fair or not. As for my Leeds being Leeds comment… they in no way have a monopoly on anger, they just happen to be particularly good at it- hair trigger and intense. Leeds fans are such a bipolar, emotional wreck rollercoaster it’s almost comical. Pre-match, they were riding absurdly high, predicting 4-0 victory, an easy run through the championship, auto promotion- love all around. Post match- many were calling for 49ers and Farke to be gone, gloom and doom. It’s Game 1. God sakes, pace yourselves! 😂
soft defense, receives at least somewhat back to goal, he’s allowed to turn and face, the direction he’s going is steady and predictable, two pompey guys right there, no one closes him down, tackles, or even slides to block.
so it’s red bull leeds now?
Minority owners. 49ers are still the majority owners. I heard Red Bull owns 10% not sure how accurate that is. Not that Leeds fans aren’t always mad but apparently there was some uproar when the logo was put as the primary sponsor on the kit.
i did think BA should have just stayed put considering they were going down to the c’ship last year, but the red bull angle also provides another explanation for him returning/staying put.
“Brenden Aarsonson scores the equalizer but misses the WIDE OPEN WINNER at Elland Road”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1TiSeum7l8
Having that much of an impact on the game coming on the pitch in the 71st minute…..finding the space…..being in the right spots…..he might have a breakout season this year with more playing time
Hopefully this will lead to a fruitful season for Aaronson and Leeds.
With Pulisic looking likely to play the 10 for Milan I kind of wonder if an Aaronson on the left, weah on the right and Pulisic as the 10 for the USMNT might look like.
Not many better ways to win back the fans than to score a late equalizer.
Apparently he missed a really good chance a minute later to win it and he’s back in the doghouse.
Another season of the wonderful Leeds fans.
Another season of the wonderful Leeds fans.
yes he did. had a chance to win it
Clearly, I didn’t read your article closely before commenting Larry. It wasn’t a Wondo level chance but the second was a much easier finish than the one her converted.
Not even “really good.” One-on-one and dragged it wide. Let the Leeds’ fans’ hate commence.
You can look at it as he got them 1 point
or
he lost them 2.
From what I read it was a pretty awful miss.
Overall, it’s probably a wash. BA hasn’t been known for creating chances or scoring so for his sake he better develop it because that will keep him employed.