Leeds manager Daniel Farke was “heartbroken” after Illan Meslier’s last-gasp mistake handed Sunderland a 2-2 draw in a pulsating Sky Bet Championship encounter.
A costly mistake from Meslier gifted the Black Cats an equaliser in the dying seconds of stoppage time as Alan Browne’s attempted cross brushed off Junior Firpo’s head and the ball bounced past the goalkeeper as he tried to collect it.
The ball then rolled into the net to hand Sunderland a valuable point, with Farke insisting he has never seen the like in his career.
“I’ve worked for 30 years in professional football, I’ve won and lost many points in the last seconds – lucky and unlucky – but to be honest something like this I’ve not experienced in 30 years of professional football,” Farke said.
“To lose those points in this way is heartbreaking, is horrendous, is so sad and disappointing for our lads.
“I feel for my lads because to this moment they’ve done more or less everything right after such a difficult time.
“To lose two points in the last moment of the game in this way is heart-breaking and tough to take, it feels like a bit like a loss. Before the game I would have said away to Sunderland is a good result.”
In an entertaining clash at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland took the lead through teenager Chris Rigg before Joel Piroe levelled with a header.
The visitors took advantage shortly after the break through Firpo’s low strike, which looked to have sealed victory until Meslier’s late error.
