The Championship attracted the second biggest live crowds of any division in Europe last season and, on this compelling evidence, it is all too easy to understand why.
If this blink and you’ll miss it 98 minutes of oscillating emotions and full on entertainment is anything to go by, England’s second tier will surely remain ahead of the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A and behind only the Premier League in the attendance charts.
As with all the best dramas, the opening Elland Road offering kicked off with a thoroughly deceptive red herring.
By the time an elegant swipe of Pascal Struijk’s left foot had sent Will Norris the wrong way from the penalty spot, Leeds had already hit the crossbar three times. Given that only nine minutes were on the clock when Struijk opened the scoring in the wake of Connor Ogilvie’s felling of Dan James, it is safe to say Portsmouth were well and truly on the ropes.
This trip to West Yorkshire marked the newly-promoted visitors’ return to the second tier for the first time since 2012. As Wilfried Gnonto, Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev all saw decent efforts strike the bar in the space of a manic 90 seconds, those travelling fans who had departed the south coast before dawn harboured reason to reflect on the old adage about being careful what you wish for.
Leeds had yearned to be preparing for a Premier League season now but May’s narrow playoff final defeat to Southampton ensured they remain in the second tier. Daniel Farke’s side initially looked in very decent shape but their pre kick-off status as nailed on automatic promotion favourites started seeming slightly optimistic when Marlon Pack’s clever pass prefaced Illan Meslier touching but failing to hold Elias Sørensen’s crisp, well calibrated shot. If the Leeds goalkeeper looked a little unhappy with himself, Portsmouth’s new found confidence was almost palpable.
As uncertainty and hesitancy re-entered the home vocabulary Farke appearered resigned rather than surprised as, with half time beckoning, Callum Lang’s sublime half volley flew inexorably past Meslier after Pack’s free kick had been headed only partially clear.
Efficiency personified, Portsmouth had recovered from that daunting induction to conjure two chances and score from both of them.
By now the bright sunshine that greeted kick-off had given way to a heavy shower and Leeds supporters debated precisely how much they were missing last season’s stellar performers Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville after their summer sales to Tottenham and West Ham respectively.
At least Farke still has Gnonto in his squad. The second half had barely begun before the Italy winger issued a timely reminder of his own immense potential by showing off a tremendous change of pace before cutting in from the left and sending a fabulous low shot swerving beyond Norris’s grasp. Gnonto remains the subject of £25m interest from, among others, Everton but, on this evidence, Leeds could certainly do with keeping him for at least another season.
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Even with Gnonto still around, Leeds struggled to deconstruct an increasingly obdurate Portsmouth whose resilience will only increase once the experienced Matt Ritchie, a free transfer midfield signing from Newcastle, is fit enough to be a regular starter.
Ritchie made his second debut for the club where, almost two decades ago, he began his career as a late substitute and was soon celebrating as Lang very nearly secured all three points in the second minute of stoppage time courtesy of an impeccably executed penalty conceded by Jayden Bogle’s foul.
Farke’s use of his own bench, helped ensure Portsmouth could not quite maintain that lead. Three home substitutes – Joël Piroe (assist), Patrick Bamford (defender distracting decoy) and Brenden Aaronson (scorer thanks to a fine shot) – combined to clinch a face saving 95th minute point.
Aaronson should really have won it a couple of minutes later but, instead, shot tantalising wide with the goal at his mercy.