Elche 1 Leeds United 2 live: Reaction and recap as ten-men Whites lift Festa d'Elx Trophy despite new injuries

Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
Leeds United faced Spanish hosts Elche on Thursday evening in a mid-season friendly with a twist.

Leeds touched down in Spain last weekend for a World Cup break training camp and Jesse Marsch’s Whites faced La Liga side Elche in the first of three winter friendlies for the Whites. But the fixture against Elche was more than just a friendly with the annual Festa d'Elx Trophy on the line as Leeds face La Liga’s bottom-placed side.

Elche have hosted the Festa d'Elx Trophy annually since 1960 in the form of a one-off friendly against European opposition, played home or away. Barcelona and Real Madrid feature among the former winners and now Leeds could add their name to the roll of honour with victory in this evening’s 7.15pm kick-off. Tonight’s hosts have yet to record a victory from their 14 games in La Liga so far this term in which they have amassed just four points.

Elche 1 Leeds United 2 recap and reaction

Key Events

  • 7.15pm kick-off at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero

21: Cooper makes an important clearance. Leeds then fail to clear a corner and pressure continues, claims for a penalty for handball then waved away

25: Leeds attacking but Elche win the ball and cut through Leeds with ease, Roger is in behind Cooper and one on one but fires over, should have scored. Leeds yet to get going whatsoever

27: Quite amazing how it’s still 0-0, Leeds can’t get out

Another meaty challenge

29: On Gelhardt, yellow card for Raul Guti

29: Rodrigo in behind from the free kick but slips at a tight angle

Another Elche chance

31: Too easy for them, into the box, Boye cleverly finds Roger whose shot is deflected behind off Cooper

32: More Elche pressure, Ayling heads the ball back to Robles who collects under massive pressure, good take by him

Bit better from Leeds

35: Rodrigo - fresh from booting a ball at a ball boy (for which he apologises) cuts in from the right, ball squared to Roca whose effort is blocked

38: Cross from the right flies through the box, second cross from the left then deflected over

Heading for half time

43: Not happening for Leeds who have done well to avoid going at least a goal behind.

Related topics: