An explosive opening gives Leeds United the win against Watford

Two goals within the opening seven minutes were enough for Leeds United as they defeated Watford 2-1 at Elland Road.

The result means Leeds have only lost one of their last ten league games as Daniel Farke’s side backed up their most impressive win of the season against Sheffield United on Friday with another three points tonight.

First half: Leeds’ explosive opening

Largie Ramazani’s evening only lasted 14 minutes after he was subbed off after picking up an injury, but he made a massive impact on the game during his short cameo.

In what was the first chance of the match, Pascal Struijk clipped a ball down the left channel for Junior Firpo to chase. After entering the penalty area, Firpo cut back and laid the ball off to Ramazani who was on the edge of the box.

Ramazani quickly shifted the ball onto his right foot before curling a powerful effort towards goal.

Despite the pace on the ball, the strike was fairly central, and it looked to be a routine save for Daniel Bachmann in the Watford goal. However, Bachmann failed to keep hold of the shot and spilled it into the back of his net as United took the lead in the first four minutes.

Willy Gnonto had a chance to double the lead just two minutes later after a tackle from Ao Tanaka won possession back for the Whites and Brendan Aaronson picked up the loose ball and began to drive at the heart of the Watford defence.

The American international picked his head up and found Gnonto to his right who made an angle for the shot after receiving the ball but he dragged his effort just wide of the far post.

Leeds ended up doubling their lead in the 7th minute when Gnonto’s deflected cross bounced awkwardly and Bachmann could only push the ball away as far as the penalty spot where Aaronson was lurking.

Aaronson did well to open up his body and find the back of the net, and the travelling Watford fans were stunned into silence.

After Ramazani was replaced by Manor Solomon in the 14th minute, the tempo of Leeds’ play dropped as Watford managed to catch their breath after the chaotic start.

United’s last notable chance of the first half came just after the half-hour mark when some tidy play between Joel Piroe and Gnonto gave Gnonto another chance in front of goal.

Instead of aiming the shot across the keeper, Gnonto tried to squeeze it in at the near post and the shot was saved well by Bachmann, who desperately needed to build some confidence.

Illan Meslier was called into action for the first time in the 39th minute when he was forced to be at full stretch to push Giorgi Chakvetadze’s long-range effort behind for a corner.

Second half: Leeds survive nervy start to secure the win

Similar to Leeds in the first half, Watford came out quickly at the start of the second half as they managed to pull a goal back and create a nervous atmosphere at Elland Road.

Moussa Sissoko picked out Kwadwo Baah in space on the right-hand side and the attacker did a superb job at slowing down to entice Pascal Struijk to dive in before accelerating past him and getting the byline.

Baah then drilled a low cross across the box that was intercepted by Joe Rodon, but the ball fell back to the feet of Baah who was on hand to poke it in and give the visitors a lifeline in the 47th minute.

Watford were in the ascendancy and had a chance to equalise in the 51st minute when Yasser Larouci took on Jayden Bogle and managed to get a shot off inside the box but luckily for Leeds, it flew just over the bar.

Leeds managed to weather the storm and regain control of the game and after the hour mark, they looked the more likely of the two teams to score.

The Whites should’ve had a third goal when Bogle’s cross/shot bounced off the post and eventually fell to Piroe on the penalty spot.

But what initially looked to be a relatively easy chance was soon a wasted one as Piroe’s effort lacked any conviction and was easily saved.

Substitutes Mateo Joseph and Dan James both had positive impacts after being subbed on in the 72nd minute and both had chances to kill the game late on.

Joseph's chance came when he peeled off the defender at the back post to meet the cross of James that was delivered spectacularly with the outside of his right boot.

Joseph had all the space and time any striker could only dream of, but he was unable to direct his header to either side of the ‘keeper.

In the 89th minute, the roles were reversed as Joseph rolled the ball out wide for James to run onto and instead of cutting the ball back to Joseph, James went for goal and his effort was tipped over the bar by Bachmann, but it didn’t prove to be costly as Leeds managed the rest of the game well to secure the three points.

Next up for Leeds United is a trip away to face Bristol City as United look to make it three wins in eight days.