Rayan Ait-Nouri’s 74th minute winner gave Leeds the PERFECT start to the season to beat Wolves 2-1

Rayan Ait-Nouri’s 74th minute own goal gave Leeds a 2-1 win at home to Wolves to kick off their Premier League season after Daniel Podence and Rodrigo had scored earlier in the first half at Elland Road. 

Brenden Aaronson had squeezed his way through the Wolves defenders but his shot came off Air-Nouri following Patrick Bamford‘s cross which was fizzed across the face of the visitors’ goal, to gift the visitors all three points. 

Podence’s opener came after just six minutes, with the Portuguese forward striking the ball into the ground to lift it over Illan Meslier in the Leeds goal, following Hwang Hee-Chan’s headed pull back from a Pedro Neto cross. 

Rayan Ait-Nouri turned the ball into his own net late in the game to gift the hosts the perfect start to the 2022-23 season

Ait-Nouri’s 74th minute own goal was initially credited as a goal for debutant Brenden Aaronson 

Jesse Marsch’s side won just their second game in their last six in a record stretching back to last season

Daniel Podence opened the scoring in the sixth minute with an acrobatic half-volley that went in off the bar

Pedro Neto was found wide on the left before beating Rasmus Kristensen and sending a cross towards Hwang Hee-Chan at the back post, who headed the ball pack into Podence’s path

Rodrigo then equalised 18 minutes later to send an already bouncing Elland Road into a frenzy

Rodrigo’s strike beat Jose Sa at his near post for pace and power to bring Leeds back level

But the lead did not last long, as Rodrigo pulled the hosts back with a low and hard strike that beat Jose Sa at his near post to raise the already febrile atmosphere at Elland Road. 

Belgian international Leander Dendoncker had the opportunity to put his side ahead on the cusp of half-time after he managed to stay onside in the Leeds penalty area, but Meslier spread himself to deny the midfielder from just a few yards out. 

Leeds undoubtedly impressed the most in the first half, with debutant Aaronson in particular playing well, but Wolves grew into the game in what was an even start to the second period that saw half-chances for both sides.   

Leander Dendoncker had the chance to put the visitors ahead on the cusp of half-time but Meslier stood firm in his way

Hwang Hee-Chan was removed in the second half after struggling with an injury sustained in an earlier challenge

Aaronson was hugely impressive on his debut following his move from RB Salzburg in the summer

Having made several fine saves throughout the match Jose Sa was given no chance after Aaronson’s strike came off Ait-Nouri from close range

However the visitors then began to press the advantage and started to enjoy more of the ball in dangerous positions, with Ait-Nouri and Neto combining well down the Wolves’ left flank.

Another debutant in Rasmus Kristensen did superbly well to stop Ait-Nouri in his tracks with a last-ditch tackle inside his own box just after the hour mark as the game began to open up at the back for both sides. 

But it was Leeds who broke the stalemate through an own goal from Ait-Nouri who turned captain Bamford’s flashed ball across Sa’s goal into his own net under heavy pressure from the impressive Aaronson to give the home side a 74th minute lead.

Full report to follow.  

Wolves manager Bruno Lage was visibly incensed at the final whistle after another disappointing loss for his side