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Leeds were involved in another seven-goal thriller as they held on to beat Fulham 4-3 when Premier League football returned to Elland Road.<\/p>\nLeeds were involved in another seven-goal thriller as they held on to beat Fulham 4-3 when Premier League football returned to Elland Road.<\/p>\n
Marcelo Bielsa\u2019s side, who lost their first top-flight game in 16 years 4-3 at champions Liverpool last week, appeared to be cruising when Helder Costa put them 4-1 up, but Fulham hit back to ensure a rip-roaring finale.<\/p>\n
Costa\u2019s early opener for Leeds was cancelled out by Aleksandar Mitrovic\u2019s penalty before Mateusz Klich\u2019s spot-kick restored Leeds\u2019 advantage at the end of the first half.<\/p>\n
Patrick Bamford and Costa struck further goals for Leeds early in the second period, but Fulham substitute Bobby Decordova-Reid fired the visitors back into it and Mitrovic\u2019s header five minutes later left Bielsa\u2019s side hanging on.<\/p>\n
Joe Bryan\u2019s early free-kick, reminiscent of his effort in last month\u2019s play-off final against Brentford, almost caught Leeds cold before Costa\u2019s blistering finish gave Leeds a dream start.<\/p>\n
The Portuguese gathered Kalvin Phillips\u2019 corner at the back post in the fifth minute and unleashed an unstoppable shot from a tight angle into the roof of the net.<\/p>\n
Fulham defender Michael Hector and Leeds\u2019 summer recruit Robin Koch both went close with headers, the latter\u2019s forcing an excellent save from Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.<\/p>\n
It was a keenly fought contest and Fulham equalized through Mitrovic\u2019s 34th-minute penalty.<\/p>\n
Bryan went down on the left edge of the area under Koch\u2019s sliding challenge and after referee Anthony Taylor had checked with the video assistant referee, Mitrovic converted into Illan Meslier\u2019s bottom right-hand corner.<\/p>\n
But the Londoners were not level for long. Bryan was adjudged to have shoved Bamford in a race to reach Jack Harrison\u2019s raking cross into the box and Klich coolly restored Leeds\u2019 advantage.<\/p>\n
Rodrigo, who had played the full 90 minutes on his debut in the Carabao Cup defeat to Hull on Wednesday night, was replaced by Tyler Roberts during the interval.<\/p>\n
Leeds quickly readjusted and struck their third goal in the 51st minute, with Bamford clinically dispatching a right-footed shot after Klich\u2019s brilliant pass had carved Fulham\u2019s defense wide open.<\/p>\n
Leeds struck again to make it 4-1 in the 57th minute with a superb second goal for Costa, who slammed home first time following Bamford\u2019s run and cross.<\/p>\n
But Fulham refused to surrender. Substitute Decordova-Reid drilled home his side\u2019s second soon after replacing Josh Onomah in the 62nd minute and five minutes later Mitrovic\u2019s towering header from Kenny Tete\u2019s cross made it 4-3.<\/p>\n
Neeskens Kebano\u2019s shot then hit a post as Fulham threatened to turn the game on its head and Leeds appearing all at sea.<\/p>\n
The home side rode the storm and went close to scoring the game\u2019s eighth goal when Alioski\u2019s shot and Roberts\u2019 follow-up were both saved by Areola.<\/p>\n
Mitrovic then forced Meslier into a diving save and while Leeds looked the more likely to score in the closing stages, the home bench held their breath when Denis Odoi\u2019s last-gasp drive flew over the crossbar.<\/p>\n