Leeds United: Italian media react to Wilfried Gnonto’s display in draw with Ireland
Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto started and scored twice in Italy Under-21s 2-2 draw with the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday 21 November.
Having scored twice in the Italian’s win over San Marino earlier in the international break, the 20-year-old continued his excellent run of form, converting a first-half penalty and finding the net in the 96th minute to twice pull the scores level.
Italy hadn’t conceded a goal in any of their first four qualifying matches and while the result was a slightly disappointing one, Gnonto’s display earned plenty of plaudits from the Italian press as he rescued his side from defeat.
OA Calcio awarded the Leeds winger a 7.5/10 rating, describing Gnonto as the “best on the field” with his explosive pace causing the Irish defence plenty of problems. They also pointed out the fact that he was unfortunate to not have levelled the game earlier as he struck the post with a “sensational” effort that deserved better.
Football Italia also credited the Whites forward for his rescue act describing the move in the lead-up to the goal as “chaotic” as Gnonto ensured that Italy won a point with the last kick of the match.
Returning in form
Before a ball had been kicked this season, most Leeds United supporters had anticipated that Gnonto could be one of the Whites’ most important players in their quest to return to the Premier League and while that hasn’t been the case so far, it feels as though the 20-year-old is finding his form.
While his two goals on Tuesday came from the penalty spot and courtesy of a deflection, his performances have been about more than his goals with Italian outlets crediting the winger for his overall displays as one of Italy’s best players in both matches.
Whether his impressive international displays will be enough for the 20-year-old to force his way back into Daniel Farke’s starting XI remains to be seen and it remains a tall order considering Dan James and Crysencio Summerville’s form in recent weeks.
But with a busy period of fixtures on the horizon as we build up the festive period, the German is going to have to rotate and call upon the fringe members of his squad and Leeds supporters could well be set to see a fair bit more of Gnonto.
He couldn’t be returning to Elland Road in much better form so hopefully, he might finally get his season up and running.
In other Leeds United news, the Welsh media have reacted to three Leeds players’ performances against Turkey