Leeds United dispatched SC Verl by four goals to one in a friendly that was played behind closed doors after Leeds fans were told not to travel due to security concerns.
The game was played at the home of the German third-tier outfit, who finished seventh last season, on Tuesday afternoon.
A first-half brace from Joel Piroe, which included a penalty after SC Verl’s Martin Ens accidentally picked the ball up in his own box, and second-half goals from Wilfried Gnonto and Lukas Nmecha took Leeds to their first win of pre-season after the goalless draw against Manchester United in Stockholm on Saturday.
Daniel Farke‘s side started in a 4-2-3-1 shape in a game that was played with two 60-minute halves to allow the players to get more minutes and improve fitness. Farke’s family were in attendance alongside a handful of locals at the Sportclub Arena in Verl.
Leeds’ new signing Anton Stach was also at the ground but was unable to get international clearance from FIFA in time to feature while another summer signing in Sebastiaan Bornauw sustained a quad injury in training on Monday and is expected to be out for the next fortnight. Meanwhile, Brenden Aaronson joined up with the squad after an extended break following international duty.
The German side started on the front foot with Illan Meslier forced to make a good stop from Alessio Besio’s effort in the fourth minute.
Leeds (in blue) picked up their first win of pre-season in a game their fans were told not to travel to
The game was played in two 60-minute halves in a bid to allow players to build up fitness
Daniel Farke’s side were dominant, with no Leeds fans present due to security concerns
Leeds grew into the game and looked threatening from set-pieces with Jack Harrison’s corner finding Pascal Struijk, whose header was kept out by a fine save from Philipp Schulze.
On the 25th-minute mark, the Premier League side took the lead thanks to some brilliant work from 16-year-old Harry Gray, whose through ball teed up Piroe and Leeds’ top-scorer from last season finished wonderfully with his left foot.
Gray then hit the post after a good Leeds counter saw Sam Chambers, starting at right back, play in Dan James, who crossed to Gray but the teenager couldn’t finish.
In the 40th minute, Ens then had an embarrassing moment after he picked up Schulze’s goal-kick in the box and the referee pointed to the spot.
From there, Piroe made no mistake as he sent the keeper the wrong way.
Meslier was then replaced for Alex Cairns as Farke gave each of his three keepers 40 minutes each. On the brink of half-time, Cairns was penalised by the referee for holding onto the ball past the permitted eight seconds, as per the new IFAB rules and SC Verl were awarded a corner kick.
Farke made eight changes at half-time, with only the two holding midfielders in Ilia Gruev and Sean Longstaff staying on, as well as Cairns.
Nmecha, another new singing, looked a handful and was denied by a good save before Gnonto added a third for Leeds with a left-footed finish after he was found by Largie Ramazani.
Striker Joel Piroe scored twice, with Wilfried Gnonto and Lukas Nmecha also on the scoresheet
The difference in class between the sides was evident and it’s hard to see how much can really be taken
Leeds drew 0-0 with Manchester United at the weekend in their first match of the summer
Longstaff and Cairns were replaced by Karl Darlow and Charlie Crew, with 40 minutes to go and Darlow made a terrific diving one-handed save to keep out Oualid Mhamdi’s free-kick.
On the 90-minute mark, Ramazani did superbly down the left flank and squared to Nmecha, who tapped in to an open goal.
Gruev was the only Leeds player to play a full 90 minutes before he was replaced by 18-year-old Rhys Chadwick.
And Ramazani was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet late on, when he cut in but his effort was tipped behind.
The home side got a consolation late on when Jonas Arweiler pounced on a poor backpass by Crew and finished past Darlow.
Ultimately, Leeds got valuable minutes in the bank though in fairness, the difference in class between the sides was evident after the early phases and it’s hard to see how much can really be taken from this friendly.
Farke’s side are in Germany for the rest of the week and are scheduled to play one more friendly on Saturday, which will also be behind closed doors.
They begin their Premier League campaign when Everton visit Elland Road on August 18.
