The master class of Joel Piroe inspired an unbridled Leeds United to a 6-0 thrashing from Stoke City, leaving the championship leaders within the moving distance of promotion.
Piroe plundered a hat trick in the opening 20 minutes of Monday on Elland Road, where Leeds Riot ran.
The attacker opened the score in the sixth minute and then doubled two minutes later.
He was by the hand to tap a loose ball in the 20th minute to complete a stunning start, with Junior Firpo soon being 4-0.
Piroe bundled at home a fifth just before half -time, and Wilfried Gnonto then went home from Manor Solomon's PinPoint Cross halfway through the second half, which means that Leeds goes up if Sheffield United Burnley would not beat later in the day.
It took only 19 minutes and 10 seconds for Joël Piroe to score a hat trick for Leeds United against Stoke City this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/rwmgi5vtvl
– Opta Analyst (@Optaanalyst) April 21, 2025
The heavy defeat of Stoke makes them run a small risk of being dragged into the relegation image, and there was a lot of drama at the wrong end of the table.
Cameron Brannagan's amazing 79th minute equalizer for Oxford United Aaron Ramsey denied a victory over his arc as an interim boss of Cardiff City.
Oxford scored with their only attempted goal after they had only collected 0.07 expected goals (XG).
It leaves Cardiff on 43 points, level with Bottom-Place Plyry Argyle, who conquered the Coventry City by Frank Lampard 3-1.
Coventry, however, remains sixth, with Middlesbrough fell 2-1 in Sheffield on Wednesday in what a tight race for the play-off spots will be.
Indeed, the fifth placed Bristol City also slid away, with Luton Town who stimulated their own survival loop with a 3-1 win.
Thelo Baasgaard opened the score, but George Tanner bought Luton back before Carlton Morris and Isaiah Jones took care of the points for the Hatters, who are 22nd.
Luton is behind Derby County on target difference, after the Rams have ended everything but the Play-Off's ambitions of West Brom with a 3-1 victory at the Hawthorns.
Joe Gelhardt was the hero for Hull City, because his double a comeback victory at Preston North End earned, so that the Tigers left two points away from the drop with two games to play.
We keep fighting !!! #Hcafc | @Mscores_ pic.twitter.com/wdzafuhby5
– Hull City (@HullCity) April 21, 2025
Data Debrief: Piroe Powers Leeds to Promotion
Even if their parties are put on ice later on Monday, the work of Leeds is certainly being done now? And Piroe takes all compliments.
Piroe's Hattrick has been scored in the English football competition (Championship, League One of League Two) since James Beattie for Sheffield United against Leicester City in April 2008 (19 minutes).
The last Leeds player who scored four in a match was Ross McCormack, against Charlton Athletic in November 2013.
The team of Daniel Farke was now the first team to be 4-0 within 30 minutes in a champion match since Norwich City against Huddersfield Town in April 2021.