Pre-season friendly

Leeds United 2 (Wood 63, Alioski 73) SD Eibar 4 (Imanol Sarriegi 5, Arbilla 26, Enrich 43, Oliveira 88)

Leeds United’s tour of Austria ended with a defeat as Spanish La Liga outfit SD Eibar ran out 4-2 winners in Jenbach.

Thomas Christiansen once again gave his players extended game time in the penultimate friendly of United’s pre-season campaign.

Imanol Sarriegi gave Eibar an early lead when he found the bottom left corner with a neat strike from the edge of the box.

Leeds almost hit back through Chris Wood, Vurnon Anita played him in on goal, but with a difficult bounce to deal with, the striker couldn’t find the target.

The Spanish side went further in front in the 26th minute, Anaitz Arbilla reacted quickest at an Eibar corner, volleying home with an instinctive finish.

Leeds again went close through striker Chris Wood, he took a free-kick for the Whites 25 yards from goal, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

Hadi Sacko did well for Leeds down the wing, he crossed for Wood who attempted a bicycle kick, but his effort was just off target.

Eibar added a third before the break, Pontus Jansson was unable to clear in the box and Sergi Enrich gobbled up the chance, finding the back of the net.

Half Time: Leeds United 0-3 SD Eibar

Christiansen made six changes for Leeds at the break with Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips, Eunan O’Kane, Ezgjan Alioski, Pablo Hernandez and Kemar Roofe entering the field.

Roofe had an immediate impact, he broke away well down the right wing and played a low cross looking for Chris Wood, which deflected just wide of the Eibar goal.

Hernandez then went close when Vurnon Anita took a quick throw, the Spaniard struck from the edge of the box forcing Asier Riesgo into action.

For Eibar, Sarriegi shot from range on the half volley, looking for his second goal of the match, but he couldn’t get the better of Rob Green.

Leeds got a foothold back into the match just after the hour mark, Phillips did brilliantly to win the ball in midfield, Luke Ayling then put in a great cross and Wood saw his initial header denied, but smashed home the rebound to give Leeds hope.

A minute after the goal, Green was forced into another good save, with Cristian Rivera Hernández curling an effort from the edge of the box.

Leeds pulled another goal back in the 73rd minute, Eunan O’Kane won the ball, before providing an exquisite through ball, which Alioski fired home.

The Whites almost leveled from a set-piece, Hernandez picked out Cooper with a cross, but it was just too high for him and the defender headed over.

However Eibar sealed the win with two minutes remaining, with Paulo Oliveira heading home a corner, as the curtains were drawn on United’s tour of Austria.

Full Time: Leeds United 2-4 SD Eibar





Leeds: Green, Anita (Gomes 77), Pennington (Cooper 45), Jansson (Shaughnessy 52), Ayling, Vieira (Phillips 45), Bridcutt (O’Kane 45), Saiz (Alioski 45), Dallas (Roofe 45), Sacko (Hernandez 45), Wood (Ekuban 67). Subs not used: Peacock-Farrell, Antonsson, Doukara.

Venue: Donau Arena, Jenbach