Leeds secured a late victory against Nottingham Forest, with Anton Stach scoring the decisive goal in Oliver Glasner’s inaugural match as Forest’s head coach. Stach’s direct free-kick found the net with only a few minutes of normal time remaining, spoiling what was intended to be a new beginning for Forest.
Stach’s goal was a right-foot strike, adding to his record of direct free-kick goals in the Premier League from the previous season. Only Dominik Szoboszlai had more direct free-kick goals than Stach last season, one of which was scored against Glasner’s former club, Crystal Palace.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke commented on Stach’s ability, stating that he expected something special when Stach was over the free-kick, noting his repeated success in such situations. Farke also mentioned Stach’s recent activity outside of football, including launching a burger for charity at a city-centre eatery.
Glasner’s Debut and Forest’s Performance
Glasner, who is Forest’s fifth head coach in less than 12 months, observed the match from his technical area. The start of his tenure did not unfold as planned, with Forest delivering an underwhelming performance that concluded with Stach’s free-kick beating Matz Sels at the near post. Glasner acknowledged the outcome, stating that it was the game he expected, with a single situation and set-piece deciding the result. He described it as a game with very rare chances and expressed disappointment.
Forest’s defence showed stability, according to Glasner, who noted that they had some situations where they played quickly and created half-chances. He highlighted the need for improvement but also acknowledged the team’s defensive stability after working together for a few weeks. Glasner also mentioned that he had not discussed transfer business on the day of the match, focusing instead on the game itself.
Leeds appeared more imposing throughout the match, limiting Forest to sporadic moments of threat. In the first half, Harry Wilson had a debut goal disallowed due to an offside call after he connected with Jayden Bogle’s pass. In the second half, Sels made a strong save to prevent a header from the debutant Tarik Muharemovic, a £34m signing, from going into the top corner.
Glasner left marquee signing Ousmane Diomande on the bench and introduced Xaver Schlager later in the game. He was seen reacting as every Leeds outfield player celebrated Stach’s goal. The away end of the stadium was jubilant, while sections of the Forest crowd began to depart.
Set-Piece Prowess and Upcoming Rematch
Farke dismissed suggestions that set-piece goals were more important than in previous seasons, despite Leeds being among the top teams for set-piece goals last season, with only Arsenal and Manchester United scoring more. He emphasised that ability from dead balls was a factor in Leeds’ summer recruitment, citing Wilson as an example.
Farke drew parallels to historical football moments, recalling a Germany quarter-final game against France where Mats Hummels scored from a header, and mentioning legendary free-kick takers like Juninho. He described Stach’s free-kicks as “bloody effective,” even if not as aesthetically pleasing as Juninho’s.
For Forest, this defeat marks a continuation of a trend, as they have lost their opening league match in six of their last eight campaigns. They have also won only one of their last 12 home league matches, drawing seven and losing four. Despite the loss, Forest will have an immediate opportunity for a rematch, as Leeds are scheduled to visit again for a Carabao Cup fixture on Tuesday.
Glasner stated that they would face Leeds again at home and would have the chance to demonstrate what they learned from this game. The match saw Murillo record the joint-most line-breaking passes in the final third with five, and nine overall, a figure only surpassed by Ibrahim Sangaré’s 10 line-breaking passes for both teams.
Source: theguardian.com