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USA’s Brenden Aaronson heads into rollercoaster restart with Leeds

Pirineus
USA’s Brenden Aaronson heads into rollercoaster restart with Leeds

You would think a manager would have no reason to defend a substitute who scored a 95th-minute equaliser in a post-match press conference. But Brenden Aaronson needed to hear it on Saturday because of the incidents before and after his sublime goal that prevented Leeds United’s first home defeat to Portsmouth in 20 years.

Elland Road crowd holds grudge

A week before the opening round of the Championship, Leeds United played Valencia at home in their opening fixture. Two first-half goals set the Yorkshire club on course for a morale-boosting victory against a top-half LaLiga side.

The mood at Elland Road thus seemed to wash away the dismal end to last season. There was a slight jolt to the atmosphere when Daniel Farke authorized four substitutions with 25 minutes remaining, however. Maximilian Wober and Aaronson were among those who took to the famous pitch for the first time in over a year.

It wasn’t the entire crowd that welcomed them back with boos, but they remembered all too well how they forced their way out of the club after relegation, with bottom-half Bundesliga sides Borussia Monchengladbach and Union Berlin ruling out permanent transfers respectively.

While the versatile Austrian was an unused substitute, Aaronson received similar treatment on his Championship debut. To make matters worse, he replaced fan favourite Wilfried Gnonto as Leeds struggled to get the better of a newly promoted side.

The young Italian has had a stellar season after a controversial opening few weeks. But he has started this term on the right foot. The winger had the most shots in the opening game of the Championship with six, including his goal to level the game at 2-2 just after half-time.

However, we had to wait until injury time for the next goal and the dramatic period of the game. Callum Lang, who only had a single goal for Wigan last season, scored his second goal of the opening day to put Pompey ahead from the penalty spot.

Unsung hero emerges in Brenden Aaronson at Leeds

When the US international received the ball from fellow substitute Joel Piroe, Portsmouth barely lost their defensive shape. Aaronson had few options and little time on the edge of the box. But he executed his shot perfectly to level the score. The attacking midfielder who had played just 5 minutes of home action in the Copa America was not satisfied, however. He quickly took his team into his own half for one last chance to secure a historic comeback victory.

A draw wouldn’t have pleased the fans, but it’s important to remember that he scored just his second goal in Leeds colours to equalise in a memorable game. But that wasn’t the standard he set for himself. His move from RB Salzburg to the Peacocks remains the third most expensive American transfer in football. Although he’s yet to start a game for the US men’s national team in 2024, the former Philadelphia Union player already has 42 appearances under his belt at the age of 23.

Back to square one?

But Aaronson failed to end his 41st Leeds game on a high note. The rush for a restart ultimately cost him his hero status among the Elland Road faithful. Unlike a minute ago, he was one-on-one with the visitors’ aptly named goalkeeper Will Norris.

But it wasn’t to be. Aaronson didn’t even manage to hit a target with the last meaningful kick of the game. As such, Farke resorted to a conciliatory tone after a topsy-turvy day for the New Jersey native.

Had he scored that last chance, the hostile crowd would have had no choice but to embrace him. However, it is not too late for that. It is only the beginning: the second start. And, lest we forget, he is the reason Leeds recorded their first point of a long season.

PHOTOS: IMAGO

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