Leeds United celebrated their return to the Premier League with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Everton, secured by a late penalty from debutant Lukas Nmecha. The match, played at a packed and vociferous Elland Road, saw Leeds dominate for long stretches, but they struggled to convert their superiority into goals until the late spot-kick.

Daniel Farke, Leeds' manager, handed debuts to goalkeeper Lucas Perri, defender Gabriel Gudmundsson, and midfielder Anton Stach. Leeds started brightly, with Jordan Pickford, Everton's goalkeeper, forced into action early to deny Joël Piroe. Ao Tanaka also came close to scoring from a well-worked corner. Despite the early pressure, Leeds couldn't find the breakthrough in the first half, while Everton failed to register a single shot on or off target.

The second half saw Everton improve slightly, with the introduction of Jack Grealish, making his debut on loan from Manchester City. However, the visitors still struggled to create any meaningful chances. Leeds continued to press, and their persistence eventually paid off in the 84th minute. A shot from Stach deflected off James Tarkowski's arm, leading the referee to award a penalty. Nmecha, who had come on as a substitute just minutes earlier, stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner, sending the Elland Road crowd into raptures.

Leeds managed to hold on for the win through seven minutes of added time. The victory was particularly sweet for Leeds, as it marked only the third time in Premier League history that two promoted teams had won on the opening day, with Sunderland also securing a win against West Ham. Before this matchday, no Championship champion had won their first Premier League game since Sunderland beat Tottenham in 2007-08.

Nmecha also etched his name into Leeds United's history, becoming the first Leeds substitute to score on his Premier League debut since Alan Smith in November 1998. He is also the first debutant to score a penalty for the club in the Premier League.

The match wasn't without controversy, with some questioning the handball decision against Tarkowski. Nevertheless, Leeds' performance was deserving of the three points, and it sets a positive tone for their Premier League campaign. Farke emphasized organization and intensity, qualities that were evident throughout the match.

For Everton, the defeat was a disappointing start to the season. Despite the introduction of Grealish, they lacked fluency in midfield and struggled to create chances for their forwards. David Moyes, Everton's manager, will be looking for a much-improved performance in their upcoming matches.

The atmosphere at Elland Road was electric, and the fans played a crucial role in inspiring the team to victory. The result suggests that Elland Road will be a difficult place for visiting teams to come this season, and Leeds will be hoping to use their home advantage to secure their Premier League survival. Leeds United's return to the Premier League was not just about the three points; it was a statement of intent.