Antenucci seals first away win for Leeds United

Three second half goals from summer signings saw Leeds United come from behind to beat Bournemouth 3-1 for their first away win of the season in the SkyBet Championship.
Mirco Antenucci celebrates his goal for Leeds United against Bournemouth. Picture: Bruce RollinsonMirco Antenucci celebrates his goal for Leeds United against Bournemouth. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Mirco Antenucci celebrates his goal for Leeds United against Bournemouth. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

The Whites were trailing to a sixth minute Andrew Surman goal and struggled in the first 45 minutes, but produced a strong display after the break capped by goals from Souleymane Doukara, Giuseppe Bellusci and Mirco Antenucci.

Caretaker boss Neil Redfearn remained in charge for the game and made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Birmingham on Saturday with Rudy Austin back in for Alex Mowatt, who was ruled out with a toe injury, and Doukara returning to the starting line-up in an attacking front three alongside Billy Sharp and Antenucci with Casper Sloth left out.

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Right-back Sam Byram was also back after his three-game suspension, but was on the bench with Gaetano Berardi preferred.

Leeds came under early pressure with Marco Silvestri forced to make a top class save to keep out Ryan Fraser’s second minute strike.

Steve Cook put the ball wide from the resulting corner, but Bournemouth did not have long to wait for the opening goal as Andrew Surman beat Silvestri with a low curling shot from the edge of the area.

The hosts could have added to their lead in a dominant early spell, but Silvestri came to United’s rescue with saves from Matt Ritchie efforts.

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Although Leeds finally came into the game more it was Bournemouth carrying the greater threat as Silvestri saved at the feet of Callum Wilson.

At the other end, home keeper Lee Camp did not have a serious save to make in the first half with a couple of defenders’ interceptions keeping him well protected and Tommaso Bianchi hitting one shot over from range.

But in the second half United improved markedly as they had done at Birmingham and Austin had their first shot on target following a strong run.

Sharp had a shot blocked and Lewis Cook hit an effort wide before Sharp went down in the box only for penalty appeals to be waved away by referee Andy D’Urso.

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Silvestri remained alert to keep out a cross-shot from Fraser, but the action switched to the other end and United equalised when Doukara ran into the area to fire past Camp for his third goal in Leeds colours and his first in the Championship.

Sharp fired wide soon after and although Harry Arter hit a long range strike over for the hosts it was Leeds who were finishing strongly.

They went ahead when Bellusci was the surprise choice to take a 25-yard free-kick and sent a fine strike beyond Camp into the net.

Silvestri came to the Whites’ aid again with another couple of saves late on to deny Yann Kermorgant and Brett Pitman, but it was all over when Antenucci raced through to gleefully bag his first Leeds goal and make it 3-1.

Match facts

Bournemouth 1

(Surman 6)

(Doukara 67, Bellusci 82, Antenucci 90)

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

SkyBet Championship

Attendance: 9,307

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Bournemouth: Camp, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Harte (Smith 87), Ritchie, Arter (Pitman 87), Surman, Fraser (Stanislas 70), Wilson, Kermorgant. Subs. Flahavan, Smith, Daniels, O’Kane, Pugh, Stanislas, Pitman.

Leeds: Silvestri, Berardi, Bellusci, Pearce, Warnock (Byram 76), Cook, Austin, Bianchi, Doukara, Sharp (Cooper 76), Antenucci. Subs. S Taylor, Byram, Wootton, Cooper, Tonge, Sloth, Adryan.

Referee: Andy D’Urso.