Brazil national team star Raphinhahas been the most important player at Leeds United this season and he showed his quality once again as the Whites sealed a third Premier League win thanks to the 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace.
Leeds United have not hit the heights of last season when they finished in ninth position. The Elland Road outfit has spent the whole of this season in the bottom half of the Premier League table. As a matter of fact, they have spent majority of the season in the bottom five.
The Whites began the Crystal Palace game with a three-point advantage over the relegation zone and they were able to increase the points gap between them and the bottom three to five points after the late win over the Eagles.
Spanish attacker Rodrigo came off the Leeds United bench at the half-time interval in place of Matheus Klich and he should have given his team the lead within seven minutes of him being on the pitch. The former Valencia man shot wide when he should have scored. Crystal Palace substitute Christian Benteke also had the chance to score the first goal of the game six minutes from a few yards out after coming on at the midway point of the second half, but he could not direct his free header into the back of the net off the cross from Ivorian winger Wilfried Zaha.
Leeds United left it late to take all three points after Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Brazil national team winger Raphinha made no mistake from the spot as he scored four minutes into stoppage time to win the game for the hosts. The Brazil international has now scored six goals in the league for Leeds United who are up to 15th spot on the league standings with 15 points.