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Leeds participated in another seven-goal thriller as they clung to beat Fulham when Premier League football returned to Elland Road.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side, which lost their first top flight match in 16 years 4-3 to champion Liverpool last week, appeared to be sailing as Helder Costa put them up 4-1, but Fulham responded to secure a heartbreaking finish. .
Costa’s first goal for Leeds was disallowed by an Aleksandar Mitrovic penalty before a Mateusz Klich penalty shot restored Leeds’ lead late in the first half.
Patrick Bamford and Costa scored more goals for Leeds early in the second period, but Fulham substitute Bobby Decordova-Reid fired at the visitors again and a header from Mitrovic five minutes later left Bielsa’s side hanging.
Joe Bryan’s early free kick, reminiscent of his effort in last month’s play-off final against Brentford, nearly grabbed Leeds before Costa’s finish gave Leeds a dream start.
The Portuguese picked up Kalvin Phillips’ corner at the back post in the fifth minute and fired an unstoppable shot from a tight angle to the ceiling of the net.
Fulham defender Michael Hector and Leeds summer pick Robin Koch came close with headers, the latter forcing an excellent save from Fulham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
It was a close game and Fulham leveled on Mitrovic’s penalty in the 34th minute.
Bryan landed on the left edge of the area under Koch’s sliding challenge and after referee Anthony Taylor checked with the video assistant referee Mitrovic converted into the lower right corner of Illan Meslier.
But Londoners weren’t level for long. Bryan was on trial for pushing Bamford in a race to reach Jack Harrison’s center in the box and Klich coldly restored Leeds’ lead.
Rodrigo, who had played the full 90 minutes on his debut in the Carabao Cup loss to Hull on Wednesday night, was replaced by Tyler Roberts during the break.
Leeds quickly readjusted and scored their third goal in the 51st minute, with Bamford clinically dispatching a shot with his right foot after a brilliant pass from Klich opened up the Fulham defense.
Leeds struck again to make it 4-1 in the 57th minute with a superb second goal from Costa, who slammed into goal for the first time after a run and a cross from Bamford.
But Fulham refused to surrender. Substitute Decordova-Reid scored his team’s second shortly after replacing Josh Onomah in the 62nd minute and five minutes later, Mitrovic’s commanding header from a Kenny Tete cross made it 4-3.
Neeskens Kebano’s shot hit a post as Fulham threatened to turn the game around and Leeds appeared in the sea.
The hosts rode the storm and came close to scoring the eighth goal of the game when Areola stopped Alioski’s shot and followed Roberts.
Mitrovic then forced Meslier to make a diving save and while Leeds seemed more likely to score in the final stages, the home bench held their breath as Denis Odoi flew over the crossbar.
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