Abu Kamara’s stunning late volley earned Hull City a stunning point in a frenetic 3-3 draw with Leeds United, having been 3-1 down going into the final stages after leading at the interval.
City were good value for their half-time lead given to them by Kamara’s wonderful volley after just five minutes, but a huge turnaround in the second half saw Leeds take advantage of some poor and hesitant defending to coast into a commanding 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Ao Tanaka, Dan James and Joel Piroe.
Joao Pedro turned in with 10 minutes to go after Illan Meslier flapped at a goalward header from Sean McLoughlin to give the Tigers late hope and then Kamara smashed in a fierce volley in the 90th minute to snatch a point, before heading off to a standing ovation from a capacity MKM Stadium crowd, who left bouncing with their terrific comeback.
It might only be a point, and could have been much different had Regan Slater not slammed into a post with the goal gaping at 1-0, but the powers of recovery, and spirit, will do wonders for Ruben Selles’ side in their battle to avoid the drop, and comes just hours after Kamara’s joint-press confidence with the manager, who was keen to try and lift his confidence after difficult few days.
It took five minutes for the man of the moment to open his, and City’s account, when he raced onto a fine ball through which split the Leeds defence to lob over Meslier from 25 yards out, and in truth, it should have been 2-0 just after the half-hour when Regan Slater slammed against a post from close range.
After a terrific first half, Leeds dragged themselves level at the start of a breathless second period when Ao Tanaka curled in a fine effort from the edge of the box.
Boss Selles made two changes to the team who suffered late heartbreak against Middlesbrough on New Year’s Day, with Matty Jacob coming in for Cody Drameh and Abu Kamara in for Abdus Omur, with Drameh dropping to the bench. There was no place in the matchday squad for Omur due to illness, Chris Bedia or second choice goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi, with Thimothee Lo-Tutala coming on what to what looked a very youthful bench.
It’s almost as if the script-writers were busy at work, with Kamara opening the scoring inside the first 10 minutes. Having already won a decent ball inside his own half to big applause, the winger raced onto Burstow’s perfectly weighted ball through to lob Meslier from 25 yards out and light the blue touch paper inside a sold-out MKM Stadium.
Kamara’s finish was lovely, and showed a player full of confidence, something we perhaps hadn’t seen in the early weeks of the season, and his stay at the club. From that moment on until the break, it gave City something to work with, and the fans were right behind them, cheering every block and tackle.
Leeds had the better of possession thereafter without really looking much like scoring, with Pandur needing to be alert to a couple of things, but the hosts had a golden chance to go 2-0 up just after the half hour. Puerta raced onto Jacob’s ball down the line, fizzed over a cross which went straight through the box and at the back post arrived Slater to crash an effort against the post.
Alzate and Puerta, who were both showing their quality, and the former almost fashioned a shot on target when he twisted inside and out before angling a shot just over the angle of post and bar.
A sign of just how well City had done was the fact they were roared off at the break by their supporters with their narrow lead intact, who appreciated the effort in that first period.
If City were hoping to ease into he second half and keep Leeds at bay, they were left disappointed after some hesitant play in midfield, the Whites pushed forward and from 25 yards out, Ao Tanaka angled in a delightful effort over Pandur to level it up.
Back came the Tigers who saw efforts from Jacob and Kamara saved by the goalkeeper before a good move ended with Pedro’s shot deflecting just wide.
City’s problems defensively caused their downfall on the hour when they tried to play necessarily out from their own goal from a goal-kick, and though they cleared initially, Selles side never recovered and eventually, ex-Tigers man James turned in from Jayden Bogle’s cross at the near post.
It was another really poor goal to concede from the hosts, who had started the second half on the backfoot. More defensive calamities allowed Joel Piroe to make it 3-1 and see Leeds on course for what looked like a comfortable victory, but what was to follow was incredible.
On came Harry Vaughan and Xavier Simons for Burstow and Alzate, and with the game seemingly heading for another defeat, Joao Pedro turned in after Meslier flapped at a Sean McLoughlin header, and with City being urged on by their supporters, Kamara slammed in a stunning volley in the 90th minute to earn a point.
City continued to push forward looking for a winner, with Fin Burns And Tyrell Sellars-Fleming replacing Puerta and then Kamara, who was the toast of the MKM Stadium, given a standing ovation. Jones was still needed to make a big block in added time, but the hosts saw it out to claim a huge point, and a result which could turn their season.
City: Pandur, Jacob, McLoughlin, Jones, Coyle (c), Slater, Alzate, Puerta, Burstow, Kamara, Pedro. Subs: Lo-Tutala, Giles, Vaughan, Vaughan, Burns, Simons, Smith, Drameh, Sellars-Fleming.
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Attendance: 24,473