Leeds United FC defeated Sunderland AFC 1-0 in a lightly attended preseason friendly at Sports Illustrated Stadium on Thursday night, with each English Premier League side testing out new faces as their summer preparations pick up steam.
The fan turnout in Harrison, New Jersey was tame — only the lower bowl was open, and even that had empty seats to spare. Still, at times, the crowd made their voices heard, especially when the Leeds supporters sang "Marching On Together" moments before kickoff.
Head coach Daniel Farke made seven changes from Leeds' 3-2 loss to Wrexham in the last game, bringing in starters Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jayden Bogle, and Harry Wilson.
Farke also started defender Tarik Muharemovic, Leeds' newest signing from Sassuolo, who started three games for Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup and drew the now-infamous red-card foul from Folarin Balogun of the United States during the USMNT's Round of 32 win.
Sunderland, on the other hand, made just one change from the side that lost 4-2 to Liverpool, as Brian Brobbey replaced Wilson Isidor up top. It was Brobbey's first appearance of the preseason for the Black Cats after the Dutch forward scored three goals at the World Cup.
Sunderland had more possession early on, but it was Leeds who struck first in the eighth minute. Lukas Nmecha took a shot from outside of the box — catching Sunderland goalkeeper Melker Ellborg off his line — that slowly trickled into the back of the net as Ellborg tripped and was left hopeless.
With Sunderland down 1-0, head coach Régis Le Bris made a first-half substitution, ending Brobbey's night early in the 39th minute and replacing him with 21-year-old Timur Tutierov. Le Bris made more attacking changes to start the second half, bringing on one of Ecuador's World Cup heroes, Nilson Angulo, on the left wing.
There were plenty more substitutions from there, with both sides practically changing out their entire lineups. This included winger Daniel James — formerly of Manchester United FC — coming on, and Wilson, Leeds' new summer signing from Fulham FC, exiting.
Sunderland couldn't find an equalizing goal, losing its second straight preseason friendly, while Leeds grabbed its first win of the summer. Leeds will next face Liverpool FC at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday, while Sunderland will make the short trip to Philadelphia for a Sunday meeting with Wrexham AFC.
