05/01/26 04:52:00
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05/01 16:50 CDT Leeds takes big step toward Premier League survival with comfy
win over Burnley
Leeds takes big step toward Premier League survival with comfy win over Burnley
LEEDS, England (AP) --- Leeds United took a massive step towards confirming its
Premier League status after a comfortable 3-1 victory over Burnley on Friday.
The win almost certainly guarantees top tier football at Elland Road next
season. Leeds moved nine points clear of Tottenham Hotspur, the team occupying
the third and last relegation spot.
Daniel Farke's men improved to 14th place, above Newcastle, Nottingham Forest
and West Ham, all of whom have a game in hand. The bottom two, Wolves and
Burnley, are already going down.
The Leeds players celebrated in front of a delirious home crowd at the final
whistle and although they were not taking their survival for granted yet the
win was clearly a relief.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," one of Leeds' stars Dominic Calvert-Lewin said.
"Leading from the front, high up the pitch, and we executed the game plan
really well. They've come in playing with nothing to lose and that can be
dangerous sometimes, but pleased with and proud of the boys with how we've
performed."
Anton Stach put the home side ahead in the eighth minute with a low shot from
30 meters out that somehow sneaked inside Martin Dubravka's post.
The second came seven minutes into the second half thanks to sloppy defending
by Burnley's Bashir Humphreys. His pass was intercepted by Calvert-Lewin, whose
neat backheel created more space in the Burnley defense and allowed Noah Okafor
to fire home.
Calvert-Lewin got the third himself four minutes later when he was on hand to
prod home in a crowded penalty box after Dubravka could only parry Ao Tanaka's
long-range effort.
Loum Tchaouna got Burnley's consolation goal.
The Lancashire club fired manager Scott Parker after two years in the role on
Thursday and interim coach Mike Jackson was appointed for the last four games
of the season.
"I knew this game could go one of two ways with what's happened in the last 24
hours," Jackson said. "The shock of it to the group. I had a feeling it could
go a little bit like that. First half, first 25 minutes, we looked a little bit
shellshocked in a way. We grew into the game a little bit more. We started the
second half I thought pretty well, and then we can't make those errors. And
then you're always up against it."
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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