Daniel Farke lauded Lukas Nmecha's "ice-cold finish" after the striker's late penalty secured Leeds United a 1-0 victory over Everton in their Premier League return. Nmecha, a summer signing from Wolfsburg, demonstrated remarkable composure to bury his 84th-minute spot-kick, just six minutes after coming on as a substitute for Joel Piroe. The goal sparked jubilant celebrations at Elland Road, as Leeds marked their return to the top flight with a hard-fought win.
Farke admitted he had some reservations about Nmecha taking the penalty, considering he had just entered the game. He said, "I was a bit worried. He's on the sheet for taking penalties, but as a substitute, he needed more touches and I was thinking of stepping in there and taking the ball off him". However, Farke ultimately trusted Nmecha, and the striker proved his manager right with a decisive penalty. "Thank God I calmed myself down and he proved me right with an ice-cold finish," Farke said.
The Leeds manager was full of praise for Nmecha, who has had an interrupted career due to injuries. "He's been excellent," Farke said. "He's won caps for Germany, but his last couple of seasons were pretty much interrupted with injury". Farke acknowledged the risk of signing a player with an injury record but highlighted the potential bargain in acquiring Nmecha on a free transfer. "It's always a bit risky to bring such a player in, but this was the reason he was a free transfer, more or less a bargain," he stated. Farke believes Nmecha has already repaid the club's faith with his match-winning goal. "Just with this important goal, that is worth three points, he's paid everything back – but we didn't pay for him!". He also commended Nmecha's work ethic and physical attributes, suggesting he is well-suited for the Premier League.
The match itself was a closely contested affair, with Leeds dominating for long periods but struggling to convert their dominance into goals. Everton, on the other hand, were largely passive in the first half, failing to register a single shot on target. The turning point came in the 84th minute when James Tarkowski was penalized for handling Anton Stach's shot. Nmecha stepped up and confidently dispatched the penalty, sending the Elland Road crowd into raptures.
Farke acknowledged his side's dominance and expressed satisfaction with the overall performance. "Overall, in a tight game, a hard-fought win, but also a well-deserved win," he said. "I think for a newly promoted side, it was an outstanding performance". He further emphasized Leeds' organization and intensity, which frustrated Everton and provided the foundation for the victory.
Everton manager David Moyes conceded that his team's performance did not warrant a point. He also expressed his disagreement with the penalty decision. "It's not a penalty," Moyes said. "We didn't play well enough on the night, but the big frustration is the referees have actually had a bad opening weekend. I just don't know what the rules are supposed to be".
Nmecha's goal not only secured three points for Leeds but also marked a significant moment in the club's return to the Premier League. The "ice-cold finish" from the new signing has undoubtedly boosted confidence within the team and among the fans, setting a positive tone for the season ahead.
