Nmecha’s late penalty seals three points for Leeds against Everton

0:05This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Thanks for joining us. Leeds United's return to the Premier League saw them welcome Everton to Ellen Road on the first Monday night football of the new season. This is how we saw things when the game finished.

0:2537 more battles to come, but Leeds United have won the first. And Daniel Farker delighted that it was one of his substitutes that came up with a crucial moment. Ice Gould from the penalty spot with only his third touch in a Leeds United shirt. Lucas Mecha the match winner James Tarkovsky and Everton will hotly debate the merits of that penalty award in which Chris Kavanagh took time to ponder but the scrutiny in the VAR booth fell in his favour David Moyes with plenty to say his team improved in the second half having shown nothing in terms of attacking intent in the first but managed to keep Leeds out who did not create an abundance of chances in a dominant first-half display.

1:17But the winning feeling, a special one, no matter how it comes, and that is exactly what Leeds wanted on opening day. Yeah, hugely frustrating for David Moyes. His team definitely improved in the second half, and as you can see there, I'm sure he's saying to the referee about the award of the penalty. His team, first-half were too passive. Leeds didn't do enough to break them down, but Leeds just kept at it. They've got a break with the award of the penalty, and as you say Mecha, ice call from the spot and Leeds have a dream start to life back in the Premier League. All smiles at Elland Road, the final score, Leeds United 1, Everton 0.

1:51It was a game in the balance for a long time, but Leeds United are up and running. Look at that smile from Lucas Mecha and what a way to announce yourself to Leeds United fans scoring with his third touch. Brilliant moment, brilliant moment for Leeds, brilliant moment for him. They deserved it all the way through the game. They're by far the better team. And, yeah, I think what a great start. I think about Sunderland this weekend. I think about Leeds, both of them getting off with wins. And Daniel Farker and his team couldn't be really happy tonight. Proud of themselves. Only the third time, actually, Jamie, in the Premier League era that two promoted sides have won on the opening weekend.

2:26Have Leeds sent out a message here? Yes, especially with the first-half performance. I thought they were excellent there. I brought Everton in the second half, came into the game, nullified Leeds a little bit. And I just felt like the game was sort of drifting really to a nil-nil. So David Moje, as you can see, is so disappointed there at the end of the game. But I said this before the weekend started, you know, besides Everton fans and besides obviously, you know, maybe West Ham fans, we need the promoted teams to get off the mark and get a win and start to build some momentum and just try and make this Premier League a lot more competitive than it's been in these last two years.

3:00And as you said, two promoted teams winning on the opening weekend is a great start to this. but he'll be delighted. Parag Morata, who we spoke to before the game, he talked about his ambition, but I thought it was interesting there, Daniel Farker. Still time for a coaching point amongst all the emotion of this occasion. Yeah, look, I'm not sure that, to be fair, that you'd want coaching points at this point. You've just won your first Premier League game on the first day of the season, but, look, it's an exciting moment for them. Those Leeds fans will be absolutely bouncing tonight, and, yeah, thankfully I'm not with them.

3:32But have they, Jamie, We've got to use this emotion here at Ellen Road. We know it's a hothouse atmosphere. Yeah, listen, it's a special place to play football. We talk about those clubs and there's very few of them. One club, one city, and it is special. That support, you know, we've got history playing. And you think of some of the games and the atmospheres. And that's why you think Leeds have a chance. Not necessarily because of what's on the pitch. It's far better than the other two promoted teams. But it's a stadium and it can create an atmosphere. and certainly in that first half they put Everton under real pressure and should have gone in 1-0 in front.

4:06I put Ellen Road definitely alongside Anfield and Ibrox, Celtic Park with some of the great hostile grounds that were just ferocious when you went there and you knew you had to work really hard to win. Do you not like going to them ones either? No, no, no, no.

4:23He's not going to let this drop, Gary. And he's going to take in every single second. It doesn't like anybody's left there yet, does it? It's going to be one heck of a queue getting out when they finally do decide to say goodbye. Listen, you know what this reminds me of a little bit and goes back a few years when Bremford came up. When teams win a game in the Premier League now, every game feels like an event. It should be, shouldn't it? I get it. The league is so big. To play in the Premier League, to win a game in the Premier League now, feels so huge for the promoted clubs. And that's what they've got to do.

4:55They've got to create something special at Ellen Road where teams do not want to go there. You need momentum and confidence and that will give them a lot of confidence tonight.

5:09Here we go. So let's have a look at the Premier League table after round one of this brand new season. Manchester City leading the way as someone were for a short time. but they're still in the Champions League places which is good news for them. It might just be top four this season. We'll see how that pans out across the course of the campaign. It might just be four teams in the Champions League. Forest, Arsenal, Leeds, Liverpool and Spurs also getting wins on this opening weekend. Draws for Brighton and Fulham. Aston Villa nil, Newcastle nil. Let's move into the bottom half.

5:53And draws as well for Chelsea and Crystal Palace. Everton and Manchester United by the single goals. Bournemouth, Brentford beaten Burnley and West Ham by three and Wolves at the bottom by four. Disappointing night for David Moyes. Everton's side failing to score, failing to muster a shot until the second half and conceding that late penalty.

6:20What's happening now? He's still going. He's still going. Brilliant. Brilliant. He's got quite a lot of media duties to do before he gets himself away. And then he's got to think about Arsenal as their next game next Saturday. Brilliant. That's what it's all about.

6:49out. So yes next weekend we start on Friday night with West Ham's game against Chelsea and then it is Leeds United back in action their first away trip back in the Premier League they head to the capital to take on Arsenal. Three games for you on Super Sunday including Everton's first game at their brand new stadium. They take on Brighton, 1 o 'clock. Palace Forest also won. Fulham Manchester United at 4 on Super Sunday. Next Monday, we watch Newcastle United take on Liverpool. I wonder if Isaac will be involved by then. Try the team. Leeds Rhinos take on Hull KR on Thursday in the Super League.

7:35These two are also off to Vegas in February. The Sky cameras will be following him there. 7.30, that Sky Sports action.

7:45And a new psychological thriller, the surfer, sorry, Nicolas Cage, is available on Friday on Sky Cinema.

7:57Well, Daniel Parker and Leeds United certainly caught the wave of emotion tonight at Ellen Road. one goal was all it took in the end to see off Everton a disputed penalty was the difference between the sides but who can say Leeds didn't deserve that on that showing on opening night for them we'll hear from him and the match winner next

8:24Hello it's Pete Graves here from the Transfer Talk podcast join us each week throughout the summer for all the latest transfer news, insight and analysis from those in the know I'll be joined as ever by my good friend Dahmer Sheff and a host of top journalists to dissect all the latest transfer business in the Premier League. So if you don't already, give Transfer Talk a follow wherever you get your podcasts from.

8:51If you're enjoying this podcast, there are plenty more from Sky Sports we think you'll love too. There's the Gary Neville podcast for Gary's immediate reaction to the biggest matches. Transfer Talk has the latest on all the big moves in and out of the Premier League and beyond. And for WSL fans, check out Pitch to Pod with Jordan Nobbs and Nikita Paris. Just search for Sky Sports wherever you get your podcasts. For now, though, let's get back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast.

9:47Farker and the hero tonight, Lucas Mecha, off the bench to score the penalty. It was just his third touch and now he joins us live from Ellen Road. Congratulations to you, Lucas. When you say it like that, when you hear it like that, it sounds like a bit of a fairy tale, is it? Yeah, amazing. Really pleased and yeah, amazing three points. When you actually came on the field, Lucas, were you aware that you were the designated penalty taker? if that event should happen? I think in the games that I've played here, when I've started, I've always been on the taker sheet. Normally it's Joel, but he was off, so thankfully I got to take it.

10:30So you were the guy straight away, and did you have any doubt in your mind as to which way you were going to go from the kick? No, I normally decide before the game if I get one where to put it. Lucas, you were up against Jordan Pickford. He's got a great history of saving penalties, especially for his country. He was looking at his water bottle behind the goal, where he normally has the list of names. Was that in your head, who you were coming up against? No, I think that was a bit of a bluff, to be fair. I don't think I would have been one of the names on there. But, yeah, I just put it hard and low and I was pretty confident.

11:06We'll show you the moment, Lucas. I don't know if you've seen it back yet.

11:14What was the key to it? Was it the power of the strike? Mike? Yeah, I think I hit it quite hard and it was in the corner. I think it's hard to say. It did go pretty early to be fair. Lucas, players from Leeds, Sunderland and Burnley have had to listen all summer to the fact that obviously clubs that come up from the Championship quite often go back down. How have you addressed that in the change room and how important is it to get off with a win tonight? Yeah, I think we had a lot of confidence, I mean, from winning the league and the way that we did it. I thought we didn't play like a team that's just come up today.

11:50I think we dominated a lot of the ball, especially in the first half. And yeah, just in the final third, we lacked a bit at times. I don't think we got enough shots on target, but that's something to work on. Lucas, some people might not know too much about you. Tell us a little bit, if you can, or as much as you would like to, about your journey as a footballer to this point? Yeah, I would say I'm very blessed. I thank God that I'm playing again. I think I had a lot of problems with injuries coming from the City Academy. I've been playing in Germany for a long time now, four seasons long, but unfortunately been out for a lot of that time.

12:28And I'm just looking to show my performances, to show what I can do. I'm really happy for today. And I think previously you'd managed at Manchester City to play a total of 16 minutes of Premier League football before you came here. Do you see in your mind yourself as very much someone who is ready for this opportunity and deserving to be playing on this stage? Yeah, I think as a striker, as a player, you have to have that mindset. I'm definitely confident. I feel like if it wasn't for some circumstances, I would have maybe got here earlier, but definitely early doors, it's a penalty goal. Hopefully I can do a lot more in the season.

13:10This absolutely could be the spark for who knows what. Lucas, what do you think that Leeds can achieve this season? I think definitely at home, we have amazing fans. It was very loud in here, electric. I don't think I felt something like this before. But yeah, I think in the way we played, We played very mature for a side that's just come up. When we went 1-0 up, we slowed the game down, got our free kicks and stuff like that. But definitely in the game, I think we controlled a lot of the game. And like I said, it was just a final third where we lacked a little bit. Well, congratulations, Lucas, a really special moment for you.

13:46You're the toast of Leeds United fans tonight and I'm sure you're the toast of Withenshaw as well this evening. Congratulations. Thank you. What a nice moment, eh? Honestly, I mean, you obviously just heard him talking about his journey and the fact that he's been injured and you never know when you're going to get your break. That's a big moment for him and have that pressure. Those Leeds fans behind that goal all expecting him to score and he's gone and done it. And, you know, really happy for him because obviously he's been out of football for quite a while and this will be a big moment for him.

14:21It just shows, I suppose, Jamie, when you hear him talk like that, And it's not for everyone. It's not a smooth, straightforward path to the Premier League, is it? There are lots of different ways to get there. Yeah. And there's no right or wrong way. You know, the main thing is that you get there one way or another. And when it's about getting there, you know, the thing for me about football is, you talk about making it, is getting the most out of what you've got. You know, someone playing in the championship might be the best they can do. That might be a great career. Someone might actually underachieve by playing in the Premier League because they should have got further in that.

14:55But by the sounds of it, obviously, he's had a lot of injury problems, which always stunts things, stops things, doesn't it? And you just need that little bit of momentum. And sometimes, like always, you need a bit of luck. He's on the pitch, the penalty gets given, he takes it now. Naming the papers, all of the Sky Sports News tomorrow got the goal. Who knows if he's involved in the game at the weekend? And that's the little breaks that you need as a footballer. Big moment in the game, though, wasn't it? And a big decision for the officials to make. but did you sense that there was something that maybe David Moyes wouldn't have been happy about in the build-up to the penalty?

15:26Yeah, I mean, when we're watching the game, we'll watch the game in the full screen, we get all the 22 players and at Ellen Rounds we can see the managers. A couple of minutes before this penalty happened, Jordan Pickford had a goal kick, I think, and he played it wide to the left-back and I could see David Moyes' reaction. I think it was Garn, I put him in a little bit of trouble. Everton played a long ball, they were lucky, they won the second ball and you were OK. But I just noted David Moyes' reaction. And then as soon as I saw the penalty incident, I was watching the big screen, I was watching the smaller screen.

15:57I asked people to just run it back to see David Moyes' reaction because of what I'd seen earlier. So that's why we're putting it in the screen now. And you can see he's frustrated with Jordan Pickford. Yes, it's a mistake in midfield and a slip, but he doesn't want Jordan Pickford playing this ball in midfield. He would think it's an unnecessary risk. Yeah, he thinks he's putting him under trouble. Now, a lot of other managers would have said you should be able to deal with that. Don't slip over. You just knock it out of Tarkovsky. But David Moyes was thinking, we haven't played well. 0-0, or where Alan rolled, we'll take our point and get out of there.

16:27So he was frustrated. But then from there, the big talking point is a handball. And what's your verdict? I think it is. I think he knows what he's doing, James Tarkovsky, and something I would do. The only thing I'm thinking is he lost his bearings. He is in the middle of the goal. But it's a split session. a split second decision. Let me just roll it back, sorry. And just see exactly where he was as it was happening. You know, obviously, it's not really going to cause him too much danger. It takes a late deflection and maybe it's just reflexes. You tell me, Gary. I think it's definitely a penalty.

17:06You don't think he's trying to get his arm out of the way, which he was trying to argue the case of? I think it comes from... I think because of the distance it's travelled and the one thing with me, I think... I mean, the funny thing is, James has... He points towards his arm. It hit me on the hand. There you go, it hit me arm. James Tarkovsky's the type of defender that feels like he needs to get in front of every single shot. And what I mean by that is that he maybe could have just composed himself, let that ball go through to Jordan Pickford, who was right behind him and would have saved it.

17:32But he just comes across quickly. The guilt written all over Tarkovsky's face, he knows it's a penalty. He's blocked it from such a distance. What's interesting here? Just keep an eye on all the other Everton players here now, besides Tarkovsky. they've all got their hands behind the back if I just stop that now Why? No, because they're worried about giving a penalty away but you've got Keane, you've got Guy I think it's Alcaraz, they've all actually got their hands behind the back actually Garner he's actually got his hands in front What's wrong with that Gary? Honestly, I just don't think they need to have their arms behind the back I genuinely don't If you have your arms here and it hits your arm it's when you move your arm towards the ball Tarkovsky's moved his arm towards the ball so if you look at this now for me, just move it slowly he knows what he leans into it there and he blocks it and it's a penalty and he knows what he's done and look I just looked at Tarkovsky's face I couldn't take my eye I thought he knows it's a penalty because you just know when you're a player of that sort of level he's honest lad and he knows that he's made a mistake and Pickford would have just picked that up so there was frustration we saw that at the end not just from Tarkovsky and the teammates but also David Moyes got involved in that with the referee as well at the end it took them six and a half seconds to make the decision from the incident.

18:44What do you think was going on there? It was a throwback to before VAR days where a referee wasn't 100 % sure. He was in communication with his assistant, Lee Betts, on that far side, and he needed help. I think the referee thought it was a penalty, but he looked to his, as I said, the referee's assistant for guidance, took six and a half seconds and then thought, I'm going to give it. And because of VAR, we're in that position now where officials have got to go, OK, I think it's a penalty, so I want to give it. And then if VAR get involved, then they can decide if this is a big mistake. If it's not, I think it was...

19:19So he thought it was a penalty. He wanted confirmation of the referee's assistant. So it was like an old-fashioned decision. He made the decision, and there was no way that was ever going to get turned over. He wanted confirmation. If you see the actual line of the referee, I think he's actually blocked. I think because of Tarkovsky's body and the lead player that stood in front of him, I actually think that he doesn't see it. So I think he does look over. He does absolutely the right thing here, the referee. He can tell he's communicating with his linesman. He looks over to his linesman and he's saying, look, I've not seen it.

19:45What do you think? I think it's a penalty. And the assistant referee's given it on that far side because I think the referee is just blocked. Big moment in the night when Lucas Mettro steps up. Potentially a big moment in Leeds United season back in the Premier League, isn't it? Oh, it's massive. I mean, to get three points, I mean, Jamie's just summed it up absolutely perfectly at the end of the game. For a promoted team to win a Premier League match in itself is like a massive event. Every time you pick up three points and they need some points on the board early to build confidence, to build momentum.

20:14You don't want that negativity spiral that exists for championship clubs coming up where they say, here we go again. Sunderland and Leeds are in a great position now. They've got three points, so a long way to go. But this is a game, if you look at Leeds' next few games, this is probably a game they had to win. They go to Arsenal on Saturday, what chance are they going to have there? Let's hope they go and do a good job and give a good account of themselves. But it's going to be really difficult to win points at some of the grounds that they go to. so this was a big one this tonight good penalty really good penalty and the question I asked him then about Jordan Pickford he's good at saving penalties certainly in an English yet he was behind the goal probably looking at his bottle and I actually it's got to be perfect hasn't it yeah he has gone the right way but it's such a really good penalty but I actually thought when he came on how many penalties he's taken he's actually taken quite a few as well so I'm sure there was information did he score a penalty we should have probably asked him he scored on his debut for Manchester City in a shootout way back when, 2016, 2017.

21:10But listen, the information that gave him, as soon as they saw he was on the bench, I'm sure Jordan Pickford and the Everton staff and analysts would have been involved in terms of being on his bottle. Where he puts his penalties, he guessed right, but the penalty was just too good. Big moment for Leeds United. Two new boys are up and running with three points. That didn't happen. Well, two promoter sides didn't win until November last season. So, good start for Leeds and for Sunderland. Let's hear now from James Tarkovsky, gave away that vital penalty in that moment. He's with Johnny Phillips.

21:43James, it was a penalty award that changed everything in the game. What was your take on it? Not a penalty. As soon as the ref blew, I was pretty confident it was going to get overturned. My first question to him was if my arm was by my side, which it was, is it a penalty? To which he said no. And then I've since read that I leaned into the ball, but there's nothing unnatural about my arm being by my side. So the ball's allowed to hit your arm, it's just not allowed to be away from your body unnaturally, which it wasn't. I can't really understand it, really. The linesman give it, apparently, he's 45 yards away, and I don't understand that way you can see what I've done with my arm from the angle.