Ivan Toney hat-trick inspires Bees to five-star victory

Ivan Toney netted a hat-trick of supreme quality for Brentford to sink Leeds 5-2 in a thrilling encounter in west London.

Mathias Jensen went inches wide of giving the Bees an early lead as he curled wide of the far post after Leeds surrended possession inside their own defensive third.

Keane Lewis-Potter threatened the away side’s goal minutes later as Thomas Frank’s side ramped up their intensity.

The breakthrough for the Bees arrived on the half-hour mark and it was from a familiar source. Luis Sinisterra was adjudged to have fouled Toney and, after a lengthy VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot. Toney made no mistake from 12 yards to open the scoring on the afternoon.

Frank’s men doubled their advantage in the 43rd minute as Toney pulled a stunning free-kick out of the bag. Blasting the ball, the forward managed to bend his effort into the top corner to leave Illan Meslier with no chance.

Leeds were handed a lifeline on the stroke of half-time as summer signing Sinisterra made amends of his penalty concession. The former Feyenoord winger flicked the ball over Rico Henry before bursting into the penalty area, firing a sumptuous finish across goal and into the bottom corner.

The visitors emerged from the interval with a renewed intensity, but they were hapless as Toney completed his hat-trick.

After Meslier raced off his line to deny Lewis-Potter, Toney snatched onto the loose ball, taking his time before picking his spot with a sublime chip finish to round off a terrific afternoon in front of goal.

Leeds’ woes were compounded when manager Jesse Marsch was sent to the stands for remonstrating on the touchline after his side were not awarded a spot-kick when Crysencio Summerville went down in the penalty area.

However, the away side were handed a lifeline with 11 minutes remaining. After missing a good chance just minutes before, Marc Roca made amends with a close-range finish. Luke Ayling sent a low cross into the box from the right flank before the midfielder turned a left-footed effort past David Raya.

Any hope from a Leeds perspective was extinguished seconds later after Bryan Mbeumo broke clear and fired an effort beyond Meslier. A VAR check offered the visitors a brief reprieve, but the goal stood to ease any nerves inside the Brentford Community Stadium.

Yoane Wissa made it five for the Bees on the afternoon, capitalising on a mistake from Diego Llorente before racing through and finishing beyond Meslier.