Ilia Gruev shocks Sky Sports pundit after what happened in Leeds United vs Portsmouth
Leeds United stunned everyone as they hit the cross bar three times within the opening minutes to leave Courtney Sweetman-Kirk in disbelief.
The Sky Sports pundit reacted live on the broadcaster’s match commentary on 10 August after Ilia Gruev curled a free-kick over the wall and back off the frame of the goal less than two minutes after Willy Gnonto and Ethan Ampadu had both done the same.
First the Italian smashed against the bar from inside the box after an excellent pass from Jayden Bogle, before Amapadu headed off the woodwork from a corner, before Bulgarian Gruev’s excellent effort just failed to dip far enough, all before the ninth minute.
Sweetman-Kirk said (12.38pm): “Well, this is unbelievable. You see it’s bending back round to that top right-hand corner but yet again the woodwork comes to the aid of Norris.
“We see goalkeepers go out before the game, they normally go to the goal. I don’t know what Will Norris has done to the woodwork there but it’s saved him three times now. Surely the next one is going in the back of the net.”
The next one did go in as Pascal Struijk scored from the penalty spot in the 10th minute after Dan James was brought down in the box.
Willy Gnonto and Ethan Ampadu go close before Pascal Struijk scores for Leeds United
Farke started his first campaign in charge at Elland Road engulfed in uncertainty a year ago and without that disruption the German may have landed the automatic promotion he wanted.
His squad is far from entirely settled this time around with Crysencio Summerville the latest key man to depart after his exit to West Ham was sealed last week.
Three new arrivals are expected in the wake of that sale [The Athletic, 5 August] so the line up could yet change significantly before the deadline, but Farke’s set up does look more secure so he will be intent on making a strong start to the campaign.
His players set off as he would have hoped for with a fast opening and could have been 4-0 up inside 10 minutes.
But although they did soon take the lead after the trio of near-misses the failure to make the most of their dominance was exposed when Elias Sorensen smashed through a weak attempted save from Illan Meslier to equalise in the 22nd minute.
Callum Lang then blasted the visitors ahead from long-range in the 41st minute to silence the Elland Road crowd.
Premier League promotion is vital this season and dropping points at home early will certainly not help secure it.
In other Leeds United news, one member of the match-day squad could make another sudden exit still amid doubts over his commitment.
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