Great White Open

In the latest instalment of Leeds United's frazzled; wildly-delightful and hard-running Premiership return; they gained a vital 1-0 triumph at Everton in an enthralling, end-to-end encounter with plenty of chances & action.

Both sides huffed & puffed in this one; but it must be said that it was Marcelo Bielsa's visitors who seemed to have better control of the match; and in the end; they had better control of the possession and chances as well.

Abdoulaye Doucoure forced a brilliant early save from Illan Meslier; before Jack Harrison turned the ball wide when it looked easier to score moments later. The chances were coming thick & fast; and it was Patrick Bamford who was denied with a stunning leg save from Jordan Pickford before Harrison again hit the post after a good cross from Stuart Dallas.

At the other end; Mason Holgate found his effort blocked by Meslier after a nice free-kick from James Rodriguez. Raphinha; impressive throughout with his drive & verve; then produced a superb leaning-back header to force another good save from Pickford; and from the ensuing cross by Luke Ayling; it was Harrison who again was denied; this time by Ben Godfrey off the line.

In a match of such fine margins; it was perhaps fitting that it was decided by a piece of Brazilian magic from Raphinha; who unleashed a corker on 79 minutes that squeezed through Godfrey to give Leeds the vital win.