Illan Meslier’s injury-time error earns Sunderland dramatic draw with Leeds

Just as Leeds appeared poised to enjoy a significant win, a disastrous mistake by goalkeeper Illan Meslier gave substitute Alan Browne the chance to capitalize and earn a point, which keeps Sunderland at the top of the Championship standings.

As the match unfolded, a lively crowd of 41,769 was fully engaged by the River Wear, and Régis Le Bris was reminded that his promising young Sunderland team still has room to grow. Meanwhile, Daniel Farke felt some relief thanks to some impressive plays on the flanks by Willy Gnonto.

At just 17 years old, Chris Rigg is already catching the attention of scouts from top European clubs as an England youth international. His appeal lies in his skillful combination of solid midfield defense, impressive passing, and a talent for moving forward to net important goals.

In the ninth minute, he likely increased his value by showcasing his impressive skills. Even though Meslier made a fantastic save to block Dennis Cirkin's shot, Rigg was perfectly positioned to blast the rebound into the net from just a short distance away.

Le Bris continues to play a key role as a mentor for Meslier, having trained the Leeds goalkeeper at Lorient’s academy back in their home region of Brittany. However, just before the match started, Sunderland’s manager expressed that this time he actually hoped to see his former student retrieving the ball from the back of the net.

Even though Le Bris had his wish fulfilled, he couldn’t let his guard down just yet. Leeds was eager to make up for the defensive mistake that allowed Cirkin to be open and quickly leveled the score. Joël Piroe skillfully got away from his defender and headed in a cross from what some might say was an offside Gnonto, leaving Anthony Patterson with no chance. This marked the first goal Sunderland had allowed at the Stadium of Light this season.

At first, Leeds appeared intimidated by Sunderland's aggressive opening, but then things shifted. Leeds took charge of the game and left Le Bris's team scrambling to defend their position.

Farke must have been pleased with how Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell controlled the midfield, especially since Rigg and his talented 19-year-old teammate, Jobe Bellingham, often appeared to be the inexperienced young players they truly are.

If Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev hadn't been injured, Tanaka and Rothwell would likely have stayed on the bench. However, with the unexpected opportunity, they showed impressive resolve and commitment to make the most of the situation.

In addition to that, aside from seeing a deflected shot from Bellingham narrowly miss the goal, Meslier didn't have as much work to do as one might have thought at first.

At the start of the second half, Bellingham received a yellow card for a foul on Piroe. However, Sunderland seemed a bit hesitant to confront the visitors directly. They didn’t show much willingness to apply pressure on Leeds high up the field, potentially exposing themselves to counterattacks.

Perhaps this readiness to hold back at certain moments was a smart tactic. As the second half progressed and Patrick Roberts started sprinting down the right flank, Sunderland began to take some chances, allowing Leeds to take advantage on the counterattack.

Notably, there was no defender keeping an eye on the incoming left-back Junior Firpo as he made a quick run into the box. After linking up with Gnonto for a quick pass, he struck a left-footed shot that went past Patterson and into the net.

Sunderland supporters argued that Largie Ramazani had touched the ball with his hand while he was controlling it before passing it to Firpo, which led to the goal. However, the real issue for their team was their inability to deal with Gnonto’s swift movements and sharp thinking. Rigg quickly fell into trouble by receiving a yellow card for bringing down the Italian winger and was later replaced by Browne, who scored a goal late in the match.

At that point, the dynamics of the match had changed once more, now leaning towards Sunderland. Leeds was trying to defend their lead while Romaine Mundle charged down the left side. Farke's demeanor hinted at his growing unease, which soon proved warranted when Meslier inadvertently assisted his former teammate, Le Bris.