Leeds manager Daniel Farke was “heartbroken” after Illan Meslier’s last-gasp error earned Sunderland a 2-2 draw in a tense Sky Bet Championship match.
Meslier’s costly error gave the Black Cats an equaliser in the dying seconds of stoppage time as Alan Browne’s attempted cross brushed off Junior Firpo’s head and bounced by the custodian as he sought to gather it.
The ball subsequently drifted into the net, earning Sunderland a vital point, and Farke insisted he had never seen anything like it in his career.
“I’ve worked for 30 years in professional football, I’ve won and lost many points in the last seconds – lucky and unlucky – but to be honest something like this I’ve not experienced in 30 years of professional football,” says Farke.
“To lose those points in this manner is horrible, horrendous, and really sad and disheartening for our players.
“I feel for my lads because they’ve done almost everything after such a terrible time.
“To lose two points in the last moments of the game in this fashion is heartbreaking and difficult to accept; it seems like a loss. Before the game, I would have remarked “Away to Sunderland is a good result.”
Sunderland took the lead through teenager Chris Rigg in an intriguing match at the Stadium of Light, but Joel Piroe equalised with a header.
The visitors took advantage just after the break with Firpo’s low strike, which appeared to seal victory until Meslier’s late blunder.
“I’m so proud of how we reacted today, how we played, how we dominated this game in major parts and how rock solid we were in the second half,” Farke told reporters.
“So, while that is disappointing, I only have compliments for my players.
“I believe they were amazing. I’m quite pleased of what they’ve done, and right now they don’t need me to accuse or talk about the last minutes; they just need an arm around their shoulder because it’s heartbreaking for them as well.”
Farke noted that Meslier does not need to provide an urgent explanation for what happened.
He remarked, “You don’t have to talk to Illan right now; he’s the saddest player in the dressing room.”
“We’ve given him a hug and will leave him alone, he doesn’t have to explain today.”
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris sympathised with the custodian, but believes his team earned a draw.
“I’m disappointed for him because I like him,” Le Bris explained.
“Everyone on the field can make mistakes, but I believe that for goalkeepers and strikers, making a significant mistake has serious ramifications.
“It happened today, and we’re satisfied with the outcome because I believe it was a tough game against a strong squad.
“In the end I think we deserved that draw because even if the goal is lucky, for the whole balance of the game, the way we played and the way we adapted our structure it was a good point for us.”
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