Sunderland 2 Leeds 2 Régis Le Bris remains very much a mentor to Illan Meslier after coaching the Leeds goalkeeper in Lorient’s academy in their native Brittany but, on the eve of kick-off here, Sunderland’s manager said that, for once, he hoped to see his former protege picking the ball out of the net. Meslier did so twice, the second time in calamitous fashion as his stoppage time error gifted Le Bris the goal that keeps Sunderland clear at the top of the Championship and preserves their unbeaten home record. It was the 97th minute when Jobe Bellingham headed on a free-kick and substitute Alan Browne chipped the ball tamely back into the box.
Collections rarely come more routine for goalkeepers but, for some reason, Meslier was deceived by the ball’s apparently benign bounce and permitted it to bypass both his hands and right leg en route into the back of the net. "WHAT HAS HE DONE?!" 🤯 A mistake from Meslier GIFTS Sunderland the equaliser! 🎁 pic.twitter.
com/NSAQbTo3km Indeed that equaliser was registered as a Junior Firpo own goal but Meslier, who a little earlier had sustained a nasty blow on the head, will blame no one but himself for failing to stop such an apparently innocuous mishit. “I’ve worked in professional football for 30 years but I’ve never seen anything like that,” said the Leeds manager Daniel Farke. “Normally in that situation the goalkeeper takes the ball, clears it and the final whistle blows.
I don’t need to say anything to Illa.