MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2018 16 Leeds go top after stunning fightback at Aston Villa Leeds came back from a two-goal half-time deficit to snatch victory in the fifth minute of stoppage time and return to the top AFP | London

emar Roofe struck in the fifth minute of stoppage Ktime to complete a dra- matic comeback and send Leeds KNOW WHAT back to the top of the Champi- onship with a 3-2 win at Aston Villa yesterday. Roofe’s goal crowned a sec- Leeds grabbed a lifeline ond-half fightback from two with a 57th-minute goal goals down by the visitors, who from half-time substitute moved a point ahead of Norwich Clarke at the top of the table. Villa, who remain in 11th, had got off to a flying start when ed a chance to get back into the Tammy Abraham scored his game when Mateusz Klich could ninth goal in his last seven games only shoot weakly into the arms after five minutes and Conor of Orjan Nyland. Hourihane added a brilliant sec- However, confident Villa were ond 12 minutes later. threatening to run riot and Jona- The hosts should even have than Kodjia fired just over at the added to their lead in the first end of another defence-splitting half, but were stunned in the move. second as quick-fire goals from Leeds grabbed a lifeline with a Jack Clarke and Pontus Jans- 57th-minute goal from half-time son brought Leeds level before substitute Clarke. Roofe’s slick finish at the death Ahmed Elmohamady backed sealed a thrilling victory. Kemar Roofe scored the winner for Leeds in the fifth minute of stoppage time to complete a dramatic 3-2 victory after Aston Villa had led 2-0 early in the first half off from making a tackle, al - Marcelo Bielsa’s league lead- lowing Clarke to work his way ers had only conceded one goal back foot at Villa Park. McGinn and slipped the ball Soon it was 2-0 when Hour- fort which flew past the helpless across Villa’s defence before set- in winning their previous five The in-form Abraham col - past Bailey Peacock-Farrell from ihane took a touch before un- Peacock-Farrell. ting himself and rifling a shot games, but were soon on the lected a short pass from John close range to finish. leashing a powerful 25-yard ef- Leeds were shocked and wast- past Nyland from about 12 yards. Late Wolfsburg winner seals Gerrard concerned despite Rangers five-goal thriller in Augsburg late show to beat St Johnstone

Stuttgart, as Gerhardt revealed his extra reason to be pleased with his winner. “It was pretty late and you have to say Augsburg played very well in the second half,” Gerhardt told Sky. “I thought I’d have a go with a run and the boys had teased me before the game for being slow, so I was glad to put in a sprint.” It was however heartbreak- ing for Augsburg fans hoping for a pre-Christmas gift of a first league win since the end of October. Because Bruno Labba - Midfielder Yannick Gerhardt (L) celebrates with his Wolfsburg teammates dia-coached Wolfsburg were after his late goal sealed a thrilling 3-2 win at Augsburg ultimately made to work by AFP | Berlin three games in the last seven plucky Augsburg, having days, following 2-0 victories cruised into a 2-0 half-time Alfredo Morelos of Rangers is mobbed by teammates and Rangers fans who spilled out of the stand as he celebrates against both Nuremberg and lead. scoring his late winner olfsburg extended their AFP | Glasgow Wunbeaten run to six English Premier League looked on the cards for the vis- and gone out there and per - matches and climbed to fifth in Everton 2 - 4 Tottenham Hotspur itors at McDiarmid Park when formed like Rangers players in the Bundesliga table yesterday teven Gerrard believes Matty Kennedy’s rising drive the second-half,” added Ger- after Yannick Gerhardt’s late Shis players didn’t do the gave St Johnstone the lead on rard. goal sealed a thrilling 3-2 win English Championship Rangers shirt “any justice” in the stroke of half-time. “But we shouldn’t have to at strugglers Augsburg. Aston Villa 2 - 3 Leeds United a laboured first-half perfor- “The first 45 minutes I wasn’t work that hard to win at places The Bavarian hosts, who are mance before bouncing back happy, far from it. It was a poor like this with all due respect.” just a point from the relega - Scottish Premier League thanks to two Alfredo Morelos performance, we were awful,” Middleton’s measured cross tion places, had come from two goals to beat St Johnstone 2-1 Gerrard told BT Sport. picked out Morelos to head goals down to equalise before St. Johnstone 1 - 2 Rangers yesterday. “We didn’t have one player home the equaliser 25 minutes midfielder Gerhardt popped The Colombian took his tally out there that was doing the from time. up with the winner a minute German Bundesliga for the season to 19 with the shirt any justice, so I certainly Only Zander Clark in the St from time. winner two minutes from time wasn’t happy.” Johnstone goal then kept the When Wolfsburg goalkeep- FC Augsburg 2 - 3 VfL Wolfsburg as Rangers closed to within a Gerrard introduced Glenn hosts level as he denied Dan- er Koen Casteels sent the ball Hoffenheim 1 - 0 1. FSV Mainz 05 point behind Scottish Premier- Middleton for Eros Grezda iel Candeias and Kyle Lafferty down the right wing, Gerhardt ship leaders Celtic, who have a at half-time and the change twice with stunning saves. timed his run perfectly into the Spanish La Liga game in hand. helped turn the game as Rang- However, Clark was help - box to meet Renato Steffen’s Gerrard’s men had won just ers improved dramatically in less when Morelos met James cross and guide the ball past Valencia CF 2 - 1 Huesca one of their previous four the second period. Tavernier’s cross to score to despairing Augsburg stopper Leganés 1 - 1 Sevilla games to fall four points behind “I made my feelings clear at spark wild scenes of celebra- Andreas Luthe in pouring their Glasgow rivals with the half-time, made some changes tion from the players and fans, rain. French Ligue 1 two sides set to meet at Ibrox to the 11 and to be fair to the but not their manager who His goal secured a third on December 29. players they played with more remained stoney faced on the straight win from Wolfsburg’s Bordeaux 1 - 0 Amiens Another tough afternoon bravery, belief and character sidelines.