Portsmouth counterpart John Mousinho admitted: “I thought that late chance for Aaronson was going to nestle in the net, so I was very relieved.
“The lads gave everything and I think Leeds know they have been in a game today – we’re gutted not to win but it’s a brilliant point.”
Farke, whose bid to take Leeds up last term ended in failure after losing to Southampton in the Championship play-off final, saw his side threaten to blow Portsmouth away early on. Remarkably, Leeds struck the crossbar three times in the opening seven minutes through Willy Gnonto, Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.
Their opener came in the 10th minute when Connor Ogilvie fouled Dan James and Pascal Struijk fired home from the penalty spot. Yet Pompey equalised in the 23rd minute when captain Marlon Pack’s deft pass found Elias Sorensen and he thrashed home a left-foot shot.
When Joe Rodon’s defensive header fell straight to Lang in the 41st minute, the striker found the bottom corner from 25 yards with an exquisite right-foot effort.
Leeds were stunned but Gnonto showed the kind of quality that prompted Everton to bid £23 million for his services earlier this summer, cutting inside and firing into the bottom corner immediately after the interval.
Yet Mousinho’s team fought gamely and grew in confidence as the game wore on, keeping Leeds at bay before almost pilfering the points late on. Bogle felled Pompey substitute Christian Saydee and Oliver Langford pointed to the spot, with Lang firing home to make it 3-2.
Still the drama was far from over as Aaronson drilled in the late equaliser before missing the target late on.
Mousinho added: “On balance, Leeds probably deserved to win; they’re an outstanding side so to come here and get a point is an amazing outcome.”
