West Ham were denied a much-needed win as Rodrigo drove home a Leeds equaliser to salvage a point in a thrilling encounter at Elland Road.

Teenage forward Wilfried Gnonto had put the hosts ahead when he thrashed the ball home after 27 minutes, only for Lucas Paqueta to level with a well-taken penalty after VAR had intervened following Pascal Struijk’s foul on Jarrod Bowen.

West Ham, though, could not keep control of a spiky contest after Gianluca Scamacca punished Brenden Aaronson’s wayward pass with a first-time shot from 25 yards just 45 seconds into the second half.

And with 20 minutes left, Rodrigo stepped inside off a Jack Harrison pass and beat Lukasz Fabianski with a low shot for his 10th goal of the season.

In a frantic finish, with tempers fraying in the respective technical areas and Leeds boss Jesse Marsch booked for sarcastically applauding the award of a throw for his team, substitute Michail Antonio and then keeper Fabianski saved the visitors.

Antonio cleared Liam Cooper’s header off the line, before failing by inches at the other end to turn Manuel Lanzini’s injury-time cross.

Then, with virtually the final touch, Fabianski produced a brilliant one-handed save to deny Rodrigo.

West Ham’s struggles continue

As a lifelong fan of the game, as well as his beloved West Ham, Gold would probably have appreciated the spectacle of this contest, played as it was at high speed, in pouring rain in front of passionate supporters.

The sight of a bunch of flowers on the seat Gold would have occupied was a poignant sight, next to his long-time business partner David Sullivan, who did make the journey to West Yorkshire.

But even with a starting line-up finally containing most of West Ham’s key transfer window acquisitions, they encountered difficulties.

Former Paris St-Germain defender Thilo Kehrer was particularly wasteful in possession and needed to rely on the covering efforts of Nayef Aguerd, making his first league start, to stop his unforced errors being properly punished.

Boss David Moyes would have been unhappy at the way Leeds opened up his defence to score their opener and also at how the hosts were able to overpower a midfield containing England World Cup star Declan Rice as the contest reached its crescendo.

The performance was better than recent efforts, which should count in the Scot’s favour but, in a world where results count, West Ham’s league position does not provide much cause for comfort as only goal difference keeps them out of the bottom three.

Klich says goodbye – but Gnonto shines

There was an emotional farewell at the final whistle as Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich waved a tearful goodbye to an appreciative Elland Road crowd as he prepares for an expected move to Major League Soccer and Wayne Rooney’s DC United.

Marsch even put on a specially-printed Klich T-shirt to mark the occasion, with the Leeds fans remembering the 32-year-old Poland international’s immense contribution to the club, which began five years ago when they were still in the Championship.

It is Marsch’s task to ensure Leeds do not end up back there and, in striker Patrick Bamford’s continuing injury-enforced absence, Gnonto could help them.

Nine goals in 65 Swiss Super League games wouldn’t normally be enough to earn a player much in the way of reputation on their arrival in the Premier League.

But Gnonto has already got a song in his honour, in addition to his eight Italy caps.

And the calm manner in which the 19-year-old thrashed home his first goal for the club past Fabianski hinted at cult status if he keeps performing in this manner.

Gnonto exchanged passes with Crysencio Summerville in the build-up to the strike, bringing pace and direction to a Leeds attack that has been too ponderous at times this season.

Source: BBC