Leeds United romped to victory away to Bournemouth in the Championship on Tuesday evening, inspired by Souleymane Doukara’s return to the starting line up.
Doukara played his first full game for the club, having been substituted off in the first two games, before tearing ankle ligaments before the third fixture of Leeds’ season.
Despite this injury, the Elland Road elite decided to keep him around, with his season-long loan deal made a permanent transfer on deadline day. He made his return at the Goldsands Stadium last night, bagging his first league goal for his new club – having previously notched twice in a League Cup win over Accrington Stanley.
Leeds ran out 3-1 victors in Bournemouth, with Doukara putting in a sensational performance for the Whites to earn them their third win of the season.
Having gone 1-0 down early on to the home side the 22-year-old Frenchman grabbed a second-half equaliser for United. His 67th minute strike brought the manager-less club level, before he inspired them to push-on and grab victory, providing an assist for Mirco Antenucci to seal the three points with Leeds’ third.
Doukara kept his head to slot home the equaliser and showed intelligence to find Antenucci on the break for United’s third. Giuseppe Bellusci had given Leeds the lead with a sensational free-kick seven minutes before Antenucci sealed the victory.
The young Frenchman put in a monstrous shift for his new club, as his heat map shows, involving himself in play all over the pitch. He worked hard, created chances, and brought United level before providing his assist – grabbing a vital three points for the club in turmoil.
He also completed an impressive 75% of his take-ons, beating his man three times out of four attempts, running the hosts ragged. As well as beating his man, he enjoyed some success in other duels – winning 50% of his tackles, but just 33% of his aerial battles. He imposed himself and got involved defensively, as well as on the attack.
Doukara made four clearances and a block for his side, preventing Bournemouth from hurting Leeds by getting rid of the ball, by blocking a 90th minute shot on the edge of his team’s box to prevent a late upset.
His passing could have been more accurate, finding a team-mate 74% of the time, but he did provide an assist and create a chance for Leeds to score. His shorter passes were more successful on the whole, with his longer balls giving away possession fairly often. He also failed to find a team-mate with either of his crosses.
The Frenchman was in fine form for Leeds, pulling them back level before creating the goal that sealed the vital three points away to Bournemouth. Despite some mild issues with passing and crossing, he was a threat to Bournemouth for the 90 minutes – beating his opposite man more often than not and chipping in with invaluable defensive help as United ground out the result.
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