Pascal Struijk’s improbable double on Monday, February 17, gave Leeds a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory at Elland Road.
With the Leeds and Sunderland players clashing at halftime, the Championship match was full of heated moments and tensions that threatened to explode at any moment.
In the end, Struijk saved Leeds, ensuring that they and Sheffield United continue to be the clear favorites for promotion as the season draws to a close.
Sunderland can count themselves lucky not to have given up a penalty, while Leeds may have been fortunate to have 11 men on the field because of an incident involving defender Joe Rodon.
The moment in question arrived four minutes into the second period when Dennis Cirkin dragged down Ao Tanaka inside the box.
Although Hackett thinks a penalty would have been the appropriate result, the ball headed towards Tanaka was severely overhit and was always going to go out of play.
“This is a clear holding offence on a Leeds United player in the Sunderland penalty area,” Hackett exclusively told MOT Leeds News after being shown video from many angles of the incident.
“The Sunderland player committed a blatant infraction, and referee Attwell ought to have indicated the penalty mark.
“The referee cannot wave away the Leeds United player’s wresting to the ground. It wasn’t all the same.
The magnitude of the two late goals cannot be overstated enough. From fourth-placed Sunderland being within four points of Leeds to being 10 points adrift in the blink of an eye is massive.
Sheffield United, who Leeds will next play, is currently in second position in the Championship rankings, two points behind Leeds.
At this juncture in the game, Burnley’s seven-point lead in third place is a welcome buffer.
It was exciting, dramatic, and full of events. And in the end, the victory might be remembered as the point at which promotion was virtually guaranteed.
