Leeds 2-2 West Ham: Player ratings as Hammers pegged back by Rodrigo strike
Rodrigo's fine strike 20 minutes from time earned Leeds United a 2-2 draw against struggling West Ham United at Elland Road.
David Moyes' side fell behind to Wilfried Gnonto's well-taken goal just before the half-hour mark, but turned the game on its head thanks to quick-fire goals either side of half time from Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca.
But Rodrigo's 10th goal of the season - a fine effort that swept past Lukasz Fabianski into the far corner - earned Jesse Marsch's side a share of the spoils in a feisty encounter.
Leeds took the lead through 19-year-old Gnonto's first goal for the club, which came about after fine play from Crysencio Summerville. The Dutchman, who was lucky to avoid a red card in the second half for an ugly challenge on Vladimir Coufal, played a fabulous reverse pass into the feet of Italy international Gnonto, and he fired home with power at the near post before Nayef Aguerd could cover the shooting angle.
The Whites were good value for their lead in an attacking sense but West Ham always looked capable of getting back into the game. They were offered a lifeline on the stroke of half time when Pascal Struijk clumsily fouled Jarrod Bowen in the penalty area and VAR awarded the spot kick after referee David Coote had initially turned West Ham's appeals down.
Lucas Paqueta stepped up and confidently slotted the ball high into Illan Meslier's left corner, scoring his first Premier League goal in the process.
Just moments into the second half, West Ham took the lead after some calamitous defending from the hosts. Brenden Aaronson needlessly gave the ball away to Scamacca around 30 yards from goal, and the Italian advanced with the ball before firing a superb effort in off the base of Meslier's post.
West Ham were on top as Leeds struggled to keep hold of the ball, but the Hammers' defensive frailties reared their head once more as the home side levelled the scores with 20 minutes remaining. Jack Harrison's measured pass was superbly taken under control by Rodrigo, and he fired beyond a helpless Fabianski.
The Pole made a superb reflex save late on to preserve a point for the Hammers, on a night where joint-chairman David Gold was remembered after his passing at the age of 86, while Michail Antonio couldn't quite get on the end of Said Benrahma's late centre.
Nottingham Forest's win over Southampton means West Ham are now outside of the relegation zone only on goal difference, while Leeds are 14th but are win-less in four.
Leeds player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Illan Meslier (6); RB: Luke Ayling (5), CB: Robin Koch (5), CB: Liam Cooper (5), LB: Pascal Struijk (5); CM: Marc Roca (6), CM: Tyler Adams (6); RM: Crysencio Summerville (6), AM: Rodrigo (7), LM: Brenden Aaronson (4); CF: Wilfried Gnonto (8)
Subs: Jack Harrison (7), Mateusz Klich (6), Sam Greenwood (N/A, Joe Gelhardt (N/A)
West Ham player ratings (4-1-2-3)
GK: Lukasz Fabianski (7); RB: Vladimir Coufal (7), CB: Craig Dawson (6), CB: Nayef Aguerd (6), LB: Thilo Kehrer (4); DM: Declan Rice (6); CM: Tomas Soucek (6), CM: Lucas Paqueta (8); RW: Jarrod Bowen (6),
CF: Gianluca Scamacca (7), LW: Pablo Fornals (6)
Subs: Michail Antonio (6), Aaron Cresswell (6), Flynn Downes (N/A), Said Benrahma (N/A)