Leeds 2-1 Brighton
- Published
Summer signing Luke Murphy grabbed a late winner on his debut for Leeds United as they came from behind to beat Brighton & Hove Albion.
Leo Ulloa put the Seagulls ahead early on when he turned home from Andrew Crofts's cross from inside the area.
But Ross McCormack pulled the sides level when he finished neatly after Michael Tonge and Luke Varney combined.
Dominic Poleon headed wide late on for Leeds but Murphy finished from close range to secure the win.
Oscar Garcia was taking charge of Brighton for the first time in a competitive fixture after Gus Poyet's controversial dismissal this summer, but the Seagulls showed no ill effects from the change early on.
Ulloa stunned the lively home support at Elland Road when he netted in the 13th minute to get Garcia off to a great start.
However, those shocked Leeds fans were soon celebrating as six minutes later McCormack found the equaliser when Tonge swung in a cross that Varney nodded on for the Scotland international to finish.
Noel Hunt, making his debut after his summer move to Elland Road from Reading, had a decent chance to score before the break but he lifted the ball over the bar after Varney had nodded down.
Leeds keeper Paddy Kenny was forced into a stunning double save to deny Crofts and Inigo Calderon in the second half before Poleon and Paul Green wasted chances for the hosts.
Brian McDermott brought on another debutant in Matt Smith and the former Oldham striker, famed for his late FA Cup goals last season, flicked on for Murphy, a £1m signing from Crewe Alexandra, to get the winner.
Leeds manager Brian McDermott:
"Both sides could have won no doubt but in the Championship if you try and win and keep going, you get the breaks.
"I think we deserved a break and we got one. We could have had a penalty and didn't, their goal was offside and then we scored.
"Their goal which was a yard offside, but then we got a goal with the last kick of the game and you take that on the first day of the season."
Brighton head coach Oscar Garcia:
"Leeds are a physical team and more so when they play at home so we knew it would be tough. We had our chances and did not take them, so we got this result.
"Tomorrow the players will know what I think of the performance. I am only happy when we play 100%.
"Everybody said their second goal was handball, but to be a referee is very difficult and I can understand if he did not see it. But it is more disappointing when we had a chance to score five minutes before."
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