Georginio Rutter unplayable as Jayden Bogle fumes – Leeds United player ratings v Valencia
Leeds United beat Valencia 2-1 at Elland Road on 3 August in their final pre-season friendly before the new Championship campaign begins.
Mateo Joseph led the line from the start and rewarded Daniel Farke’s faith with a well-taken opening goal just 13 minutes in, following a threaded pass into the box from Georginio Rutter.
Rutter doubled the lead just before half-time with an outrageous chipped finish, and despite Valencia scoring a deflected goal late on, the Whites held on for a 2-1 win after their opponents went down to 10 men.
Here, MOT Leeds News rates the players out of 10 for their performance at Elland Road.
Illan Meslier – 6
Very little to be troubled by throughout the game, but still commanded his box well and could do very, very little about Valencia’s deflected consolation.
Jayden Bogle – 5
Progressed the ball forward and was keen to run with it, but his passing was not the best. Drifted in-field when space allowed and was always linking up with James and Rutter, before going off injured in the second half – a worry as he will be fuming.
Joe Rodon – 8
Commanded his third of the field well and bailed Leeds out after a long ball forward almost came to a shot. Had a good header parried off the line from a corner just before Rutter made it 2-0.
Pascal Struijk – 7
Almost doubled the lead with a header which was saved, and looked as assured as ever at the back. Instant pick-up of his partnership with Rodon from last season.
Junior Firpo – 7
Instant chemistry with Wilfried Gnonto on the left-hand side and almost won an early penalty. Very lively on the counter-attack, and frustrated Rafa Mir to the point that it was his late challenge on the Leeds man which saw the Valencia forward shown a second yellow card.
Ethan Ampadu – 8
The Peacocks’ new captain was as assured as ever at Elland Road, being uber-comfortable dropping deep, providing an attacking outlet from the centre of midfield, and not being afraid to stand up for his side – the Welshman was booked in the second half following a clash with Mir before his sending off.
Ilia Gruev – 6
Tidy in the middle and progressed the ball well, being given licence to run into forward positions by Ampadu dropping deeper into the defensive line.
Daniel James – 6
Threatened to take players on several times, but some loose touches denied him the chance. Arguably should have had a penalty in the early stages but continued his dangerous running well into the second half.
Georginio Rutter makes Leeds forget Crysencio Summerville
Georginio Rutter – 9
Dropped deep and wide as ever, and produced a great threaded pass through a crowd for Joseph’s goal. A jinking run and shot from the right almost made it 2-0, before he did just that with a sensational goal that was all his work – intercepting the ball and beating two defenders before fantastically chipping the keeper.
Wilfried Gnonto – 7
Immediate chemistry with Firpo playing off the left, and also helped out in defence with a great covering run back to cut out a fast break. Cut inside looking to shoot several times, but was well marked by Valencia.
Mateo Joseph – 8
Took his goal absolutely brilliantly, beating two defenders before slotting into the bottom corner in the early stages of the match, and his exceptional movement through the 90 has staked a worthy claim for the starting centre-forward spot.
Subs:
Sam Byram (on for Bogle, 59’) – 5 – Didn’t get forward as often as he’d have liked.
Joe Rothwell (on for Gruev, 64′) – 5 – Solid in the middle, didn’t add much the Whites weren’t already creating.
Brenden Aaronson (on for Gnonto, 64′) – 6 – Good runs forward and some positive link-up play with Firpo down the left.
Joel Piroe (on for James, 64′) – 4 – Didn’t have the same impact as Rutter in the number 10 role.
Maximilian Wober (on for Struijk, 64′) – 6 – Arrived to boos from sections of the crowd, but was solid alongside Rodon and headed a late corner over from close range.
Patrick Bamford (on for Joseph, 76′) – 6 Continued his return from injury and looked bright, with a cross from the left almost resulting in a Valencia own goal.
Joe Gelhardt (on for Rutter, 76′) – N/A
Charlie Crew (on for Ampadu, 82′) – N/A
James Debayo (on for Firpo, 82′) – N/A
Sam Chambers (on for Rodon, 88′) – N/A
In other Leeds news, the Whites could face stiff competition to sign a highly-rated midfielder who has been tipped to “go far.”
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