Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s remarkable run of form continued as he scored Leeds United’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.
Simon Adingra put the hosts ahead just before the half-hour mark of Sunday’s contest at the Stadium of Light, which marked the first Premier League meeting between these clubs since December 2002.
Yet Calvert-Lewin – fresh from netting twice in last week’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace – made it seven goals in six matches as he side-footed in shortly after the break. This made him the first Leeds player to score in six consecutive Premier League games.
The lively Brenden Aaronson crafted Calvert-Lewin’s leveller, and he would have restored parity earlier on if not for a superb block from Trai Hume. Sunderland could have netted a second goal when they hit the woodwork at the other end.
Leeds, unbeaten in five matches, now sit seven points clear of the bottom three in 16th, while Sunderland are seventh.
How the match unfolded
Having just clattered into Joe Rodon, Adingra was in the thick of the action again to break the deadlock in the 28th minute. The Sunderland winger received Granit Xhaka’s sublime pass and curled a wonderful finish into the right-hand corner, with the struggling Rodon keeping him onside.
The injured Leeds defender was subsequently forced off, but his team-mates responded well to going a goal down. Aaronson – having latched onto Calvert-Lewin’s exceptional flick-on – would have levelled if not for Hume’s brilliant block on the line.
Brian Brobbey was unable to convert two huge chances in first-half stoppage time, squandering a one-v-one as he failed to make proper contact with his finish, before heading Adingra's cross against the crossbar.
Those Brobbey misses proved costly in the 47th minute as a sweeping Leeds move was finished off expertly by Calvert-Lewin, who turned home from Aaronson's low centre.
Jayden Bogle somehow failed to apply the finishing touch to a wicked cross for Leeds soon after, and despite plenty of attacking endeavour, that was the closest either team came to a winner.
Adingra stakes his claim after AFCON omission
Sunderland have lost plenty of players to Africa Cup of Nations duty, but while Adingra played his part when Ivory Coast won the competition two years ago, the winger did not make the cut this time around.
That decision proved to be hugely beneficial here, as Adingra showed his class with that sublime finish to not only open the scoring in the game but also register his first Sunderland goal.
Adingra could easily have had an assist to his name when he crossed for Brobbey late in the first half, but the former Ajax forward could not direct his header under the woodwork.
Ultimately, without the influential Dan Ballard in defence, Sunderland could not hold out, but they do remain unbeaten at home ahead of hosting Manchester City on New Year's Day.
Calvert-Lewin scores again, but Aaronson stands out
Calvert-Lewin is in his richest form since he was flying under Carlo Ancelotti at Everton, and not even in the 2020/21 season did he net in six straight league matches.
His scoring streak is the longest by an English player in the Premier League since Jamie Vardy netted in eight in a row in 2019. But he is offering more than just goals.
The 28-year-old was involved in a slick Leeds move in the 10th minute, as he held the play up before Anton Stach tested Robin Roefs.
Rodon’s injury, which came about as a result of a collision with Adingra, shook Leeds, with the Wales international unable to move freely enough to form an offside trap that might have prevented Sunderland’s opener.
However, Calvert-Lewin demonstrated immense skill to then tee up Aaronson’s chance with a deft flick, and that duo combined to brilliant effect just after the interval, with Daniel Farke's team having settled into a new shape following Rodon’s departure.
As good as Calvert-Lewin was, Aaronson was equally as bright. The United States international was a constant threat. His assist came after he had already fired in a cross that just evaded Noah Okafor in the first half.
Next up for Leeds is a trip to Liverpool, but with a striker and a playmaker in such strong form, they should have no fear.
Club reports
Sunderland report | Leeds report
What the managers said
Regis Le Bris: "Very tough game, as expected, because we knew Leeds were a good side in good form - they are still in good form! They showed great quality on the pitch today. We started well. We scored and at the end of the first half when we had the opportunity to score the second goal.
"I think it was a key moment because after that when Leeds changed their structure I think we struggled to find our references for the build-up and for the high press - so they were dominant at that time. We found the energy to change the switch sometimes. Even at the end of the game we had the opportunity to be a bit more dangerous. I think it was a fair result in the end."
Daniel Farke: "Wins are always good not just for the table, but also for the confidence of the dressing room. We are in really good form and we never know when we are beaten. Even when we are in a losing position, we know that we can always come back and score.
"It's a good period but we have to keep going. Twenty points is good at this stage of the season - but it's not enough to stay in this league. We will need to win many more games, and for that we will need to keep going."
Next PL fixtures
Key facts
Calvert-Lewin became only the 11th English player to score in 6+ consecutive Premier League appearances, and first since Joe Willock netted in seven in a row from April to May 2021. He’s also the first Leeds player to achieve this in the top flight since John McCole in 1959/60.
Leeds are unbeaten in their last five Premier League games (W2 D3), picking up more points in this run (nine) than they had in their previous 12 league matches beforehand (eight – W2 D2 L8).
Xhaka has five assists in the Premier League this season, the most by a Sunderland player before the turn of the year in the competition since Andy Reid in 2009/10 (six).
Six of Sunderland’s last seven Premier League goals at the Stadium of Light have come from set-plays (including penalties), scoring two from free-kicks, two from throw-ins, one from a corner, and one penalty in this period.