It’s been over a week since Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier made a critical error that allowed Sunderland to level the match during second-half stoppage time after misplaying the ball.
With time passing, manager Daniel Farke recently provided how he and the team have dealt with the issue, considering it took away an important win against a promotional rival.
The match started with Chris Rigg scoring in the ninth minute, putting Sunderland ahead 1-0. However, Leeds quickly responded, with Joël Piroe netting the equalizer in the 22nd minute.
The teams went into halftime tied at 1-1. Leeds retook the lead in the 56th minute when Junior Firpo scored, putting them in an excellent position to win. But in a dramatic turn of events during stoppage time, Meslier’s costly mistake allowed Sunderland to equalize.
Alan Browne’s cross deflected off Firpo’s head, and as Meslier tried to gather the ball, it slipped through his fingers and into the net, costing Leeds two points.
Daniel Farke reveals how Illan Meslier has dealt with mistake
With the FIFA international break giving Leeds time off to reflect on the Sunderland draw, Farke shared his candid conversation with Illan Meslier as the squad looks to put the draw behind them ahead of a crucial clash against Sheffield United.
“He’s alright, we had a chat last week,” Farke told the media (h/t LeedsUnited.News). “He’s experienced at this level, we didn’t analyse it much. It happens once in a life time. You are suffering for two or three days. He is such an important and key player.”
Following that mishap, there were many opinions on the issue, with the BBC’s Jonny Bucha believing that it was just a strange situation that led to that game-tying goal.
“He’s not a terrible keeper that would make that mistake,” Buchan stated. ” No one thought when that was going through to him, ‘Ooop Meslier…’. He’s not Kiko Casilla and the ball’s getting played back to him where you always had a bit of a bomb-scare worry didn’t you? I don’t get that with Illan.
“Therefore that does lead me to think something strange happened to him. Part of it’s probably him taking his eye off it so then he is to blame for it, but then there’s the spin there as well.”
