LAST UPDATE | 6 Aug 2023
CRYSENCIO SUMMERVILLE WAS Leeds’ hero as his stoppage-time equaliser rescued a dramatic 2-2 draw against gutsy Cardiff.
The Dutchman rifled home low into the corner with seconds remaining as Daniel Farke’s men pocketed a point after being two goals behind at the interval.
The new-look Bluebirds had defended their goal superbly in the second half, but they were thwarted at the death.
It was an impressive season opener for the Welshmen after they ended the last campaign way down in 21st place in the second tier.
With Farke and Erol Bulut both taking charge of their respective teams for the first time, it proved to be a rather cagey opening quarter-of-an-hour.
At that point it was Leeds who burst into life, with Wilfried Gnonto leading the charge.
After seeing a smart effort blocked bravely by Mark McGuinness, the electric Italian then volleyed inches past the upright after meeting Luke Ayling’s knock-down.
It was the Bluebirds who stunned the home faithful after 23 minutes, however, courtesy of one of their debutants.
Josh Bowler – signed on loan from Nottingham Forest during the week – notched at the second attempt from eight yards.
Callum O’Dowda had crossed in from the left, and after Ethan Ampadu blocked an initial strike, Ike Ugbo teed up Bowler and he side-footed home smartly.
The goal was clearly a huge shock for Leeds, but they responded positively.
Summerville fired a free-kick into the wall, before Daniel James charged towards the Cardiff box and blazed disappointingly over the top.
Summerville forced Bluebirds goalkeeper Jak Alnwick into a flying save, before Elland Road was stunned again as the visitors notched a second six minutes before the interval.
Ugbo – another debutant – slid in to poke home Aaron Ramsey’s deflected cross at the far post.
Ramsey – back making his third Bluebirds bow after 12 years away – was proving hugely influential as the visitors were now in firm control.
Three minutes into the second period Leeds were right back in contention when Liam Cooper powerfully headed home Summerville’s out-swinging corner.
With the home fans still on their feet, Gnonto danced through the Cardiff defence before seeing a shot flicked on to the top of the bar by Alnwick.
At the three-quarter point it was all Leeds, with Alnwick superb again when keeping out James’ curling strike.
The Bluebirds were offering precious little as an attacking force, but their defence was standing firm in the face of now consistent Leeds pressure.
They also survived strong penalty appeals when Summerville was sent tumbling under a challenge.
Leeds, however – back in the Championship after three seasons in the top flight – finally got the point they probably deserved when Summerville rifled home after Luis Sinisterra’s initial effort ricocheted into his path.
Elsewhere, Ipswich made a winning return to the Sky Bet Championship as they claimed a 2-1 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Former Sunderland striker Nathan Broadhead opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time before turning provider eight minutes into the second half as he set up George Hirst to double the visitors’ lead.
Sunderland were reduced to 10 men when Trai Hume was sent off for a second booking, but Tony Mowbray’s side set up a tense finale when Dan Neil converted Dennis Cirkin’s cross with four minutes left.
Ipswich saw things out, though, to ensure a winning start to life in the second tier in the wake of last season’s promotion from League One.
The visitors created the game’s first clear-cut opportunity shortly after the quarter-hour mark.
Wes Burns picked out Leif Davis with a deep cross from the right and the wing-back’s first-time effort looked to be heading in until a covering Luke O’Nien produced a superb goal-line clearance.
Burns fired in a low strike that Anthony Patterson saved moments later, but Sunderland should have opened the scoring midway through the first half, only for Jobe Bellingham to be found wanting.
Ipswich goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky could only push Pierre Ekwah’s low drive into the path of the 17-year-old, who joined Sunderland in a summer move from Birmingham, but, while he appeared to have the goal at his mercy, his first-time prod flew over the crossbar.
Neil dragged a shot wide of the target as Sunderland continued to probe in and around the 18-yard box, but Ipswich remained a threat on the break and went close themselves 10 minutes before half-time.
Broadhead backheeled the ball into Conor Chaplin’s path, but the forward’s shot deflected wide off Dan Ballard.
The visitors did not have to wait much longer for a breakthrough, though.
Janoi Donacien’s long throw reached Davis, who fired in a shot from just outside the area, and Broadhead stole ahead of his marker to deflect the ball into the net.
Ipswich doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half, with Broadhead once again heavily involved.
The Wales international played Hirst in on the right-hand side of the area and, after breaking across O’Nien, the striker drilled a rising drive into the roof of the net.
The visitors almost added a spectacular third within seconds of Sunderland kicking off, but Chaplin’s 40-yard chip cannoned off the crossbar.
The hosts’ task became much tougher with 18 minutes remaining as they were reduced to 10 men.
Hume had already been booked for a foul in the first half and he deservedly received a second yellow when he pulled back Davis to prevent the wing-back breaking down the flank.
However, the hosts rallied and clawed a goal back in the 86th minute.
Cirkin delivered a low cross from the left and Neil steered home a first-time finish.
With 13 minutes of added time indicated, Sunderland almost claimed a dramatic equaliser in the 101st minute, but Hladky turned Neil’s goal-bound effort on to a post.
Meanwhile, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored twice in 10 minutes to inspire a late comeback as Enzo Maresca began his reign as Leicester manager with a 2-1 victory over Coventry.
Leicester are aiming to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking under former Manchester City coach Maresca.
But they were made to work hard by a Coventry side who could have had more than the one goal they scored when skipper Kyle McFadzean’s close-range header gave them a deserved lead.
With Leicester struggling for a foothold in the game, midfielder Dewsbury-Hall equalised with a header before netting a spectacular winning goal.
Coventry manager Mark Robins chose to leave new record signing Haji Wright, a USA international, on the bench after completing his £7.7million move on Friday. He would make an appearance with 19 minutes to go.
Maresca gave the Leicester captain’s armband to veteran striker Jamie Vardy, with the game was played in front of a sell-out crowd at the King Power Stadium.
Kasey Palmer was a threat for Coventry and, after 26 minutes, he found space 20 yards from goal and produced a shot which drifted just over the crossbar.
Leicester came more into the game as the half drew on and former Coventry loanee Callum Doyle saw a header blocked at the near post from Stephy Mavididi’s corner.
Leicester youth product Kasey McAteer was put through by Ricardo Pereira before the break but he was denied by Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson.
Coventry should have scored straight after the break when Ellis Simms was put clear but took his shot first time and sliced wide.
Robins’ side went ahead after 47 minutes when Gustavo Hamer delivered a corner to the near post and McFadzean glanced home from close range.
Coventry then created a string of chances, with Leicester’s new goalkeeper Mads Hermansen twice saving from Matt Godden.
Leicester equalised after 77 minutes when substitute Dennis Praet delivered a cross into the Coventry area where Dewsbury-Hall was on hand to head past Wilson.
Coventry almost regained the lead when Hall broke clear and saw his shot deflected on to the crossbar.
But with three minutes left, Dewsbury-Hall scored the winner. He played a one-two with Mavididi before finding the net with a powerful left-foot drive.
Updated ay 4.52pm with Leeds v Cardiff report, and 7.50pm with Ipswich v Sunderland
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