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Trafford and Roefs deny late chances as Sunderland draw with Leeds

James O'Connor
James O'Connor
Soccer Analyst
8:31 PM
SOCCER
Trafford and Roefs deny late chances as Sunderland draw with Leeds
Sunderland remained bottom of the Premier League after drawing with Leeds at the Stadium of Light. James Trafford and Robin Roefs made important saves in a match disrupted by strong winds.

Sunderland were held to a draw by Leeds at the Stadium of Light, leaving Régis Le Bris's side bottom of the Premier League and still seeking their second league win of the season. The Guardian reported that strong winds from Storm Boelo disrupted play, while goalkeepers James Trafford and Robin Roefs made important saves to keep the contest level.

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Brian Brobbey returned after a hamstring injury and gave Leeds problems before the interval. An effort following an Enzo Le Fée cross took a slight deflection and drew a save from Trafford. Brobbey then pressured Jaka Bijol into a short back pass and reached the ball ahead of the goalkeeper, but Trafford stayed upright and used his leg to stop the striker converting the chance.

Leeds forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin passed a late fitness test on a bruised foot. Luke O'Nien made an important tackle to halt him as half-time approached, but Sunderland were forced into a defensive change soon after the restart. O'Nien accidentally caught teammate Nordi Mukiele in the throat with an elbow while attempting a clearance. Mukiele received lengthy treatment before being replaced by Omar Alderete; the report did not provide a diagnosis.

Alderete and Le Fée subsequently made interceptions to interrupt attacks involving Jayden Bogle and Ao Tanaka. At the other end, Nilson Angulo twice tested Trafford with shots from Sunderland's left-sided attacking threat. Le Bris replaced Brobbey with Ukrainian striker Timur Tutyerov shortly after the hour, while Leeds manager Daniel Farke sent on Noah Okafor and Anton Stach for Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson.

Both goalkeepers remained involved as the teams pursued a winner. Trafford scrambled away a Granit Xhaka corner that threatened to curl past him. Roefs then spilled a shot from Tanaka before diving at Calvert-Lewin's feet. The Leeds striker appealed for a penalty, but referee Stuart Attwell rejected the claim and a video assistant referee check supported his decision.

Leeds substitute Sean Longstaff later threatened with a low shot from 20 yards, drawing a one-handed save from Roefs, who diverted the ball around a post. Neither side found the decisive breakthrough. Sunderland's next assignment is a trip to Coventry on Saturday, with the draw leaving their search for another Premier League victory unresolved.

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