Leeds United 2-2 Swansea City: Zan Vipotnik breaks United’s hearts

By Ross Heppenstall

LEEDS UNITED 2

Aaronson 1, Gnonto 86

SWANSEA CITY 2

Darling 64, Vipotnik 90+6

Daniel Farke admitted Leeds United were “heartbroken” after throwing away victory in their draw at home to Swansea City, but declared himself confident of still reaching the Premier League.

Swans substitute Zan Vipotnik scored a dramatic equaliser in the sixth minute of added time after Willy Gnonto came off the bench himself to score an 86th-minute goal for Leeds.

USA midfielder Brenden Aaronson had put Farke’s men ahead before Harry Darling netted the visitors’ first equaliser.

With seven games remaining, Leeds are two points adrift of leaders Sheffield United, but ahead of third-placed Burnley on points difference.

Heartbreaking

“It’s a heartbreaking moment if you concede in this manner, but it’s football,” Farke conceded.

“If you want to take part in sport you can’t expect the sun to always be shining.

“We’ve had great winners in the last minute and the opponent had to suffer the disappointment we had today.”

“You have to suffer a little bit, that’s normal, but then we go again.”

Automatic promotion is still in Leeds’ hands and Farke declared: “We are still in the situation that if we win our last games we will finish in the top two.

“That’s due to the fact they (Sheffield United and Burnley) still have to play each other, but there’s never a guarantee of success.

“Right now it’s the final step which is always the most difficult.

“I was in this situation before and I know how tricky it is, but I know how difficult it is to bring it over the line.

“If you ask me right now, I’m 100% convinced we will play in the Premier League next season.”

Match action

On the pitch, Aaronson put Farke’s men ahead, tapping home from close range after just 35 seconds after a bout of pinball in the box.

Swansea gradually steadied themselves and won a penalty when Joe Rodon fouled Lewis O’Brien inside the 18-yard box.

Josh Tymon stepped up to hit a low, left-footed effort which saw Illan Meslier dive low to his left to make a fine save.

Second half

After the break, Leeds threatened through Dan James, who hit a superb left-foot effort just wide.

Meslier then did well to push a Ronald strike around a post for a corner, but from the subsequent inswinging delivery by Tymon, he dropped the ball, and Darling fired home from inside the six-yard box.

Farke began to ring the changes and, after Pascal Struijk saw his header pushed out by Lawrence Vigouroux, Gnonto was on hand to rifle home a fierce right-foot t shot four minutes from time.

But Swansea kept probing, and when Joe Allen cleverly played in fellow substitute Vipotnik, the Slovenian fired home low and hard past Meslier to leave Elland Road stunned.