Lots of Leeds United fans have been lauding Kiko Casilla’s efforts on social media, after the club shared a short clip of his “brilliant reflex save” to deny Huddersfield Town an equalising goal during Saturday’s West Yorkshire Derby.
Ezgjan Alioski had opened the scoring shortly after half time at the John Smith’s Stadium for his third goal of the Championship campaign, on a day we moved back atop the league standings before West Bromwich Albion reclaimed the position on Sunday.
The Terriers had come close to breaking the deadlock before the break through a Steve Mounie glancing header, but Casilla did well to deny the 25-year-old.
Casilla was again called upon to keep his clean sheet intact when Elias Kachunga fired toward him from point-blank range, but the one-time Spain international instinctively raised his right hand to block the ball before Gaetano Berardi brought possession out of the box.
Pablo Hernandez later put further distance between us and our West Yorkshire neighbours to seal the win, while Casilla’s reflex save played a part in the 33-year-old star keeping his 12th clean sheet in all competitions this season – 11 in the league.
Who has been Bielsa's most important player this season?
Casilla
White
Phillips
Bamford
No goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets than Casilla in the Championship this term, with Brentford’s David Raya second on seven, ahead of Nottingham Forest’s Brice Samba and Blackburn Rovers’ Christian Walton on six.
Here are some of the messages shared on Casilla…
Kiko our unsung hero 💙💛
— MdYusyaffil (@MdYusyaffil) December 8, 2019
Brilliant reflex save by Kiko 👍🏼
— Excalibur (@MCMLXIV) December 8, 2019
Magnificent
— Steve (@Swc242) December 8, 2019
Been absolutely outstanding this season does help having a solid defence in front breeds confidence in both MOT.
— R.Cartwright 💙💛 (@rogercart57) December 8, 2019
That save gave us the game, goes 1 – 1 heads could of easily gone
— Jimmy (@PlattJimmy) December 8, 2019
That’s a world class save in any league – always a bit of a mixed bag with Kiko but as a shot-stopper he’s outstanding 👏
— Tyler75 (@hughesr64) December 8, 2019
From the howler at derby to this!
Complete turnover probs to Kiko 💙💛💙
— dyl (@dylburrows_) December 8, 2019
I wanted keeper sacked and out of the club after last season but this season he has been magnificent.👏
— andrew rosindale (@andyGamingMad) December 8, 2019
Glad hes stopped going walk abouts now. Finally playing like the best goalkeeper in the league that he is
— Reggie (@TheOnlyPlace4Us) December 8, 2019
I’m big and ugly enough to admit I wanted him gone in the summer, but this season he has proven me wrong, and I’m delighted he has. Our player of the season so far. Thank you kiko
— Daniel (@danieltoy9) December 8, 2019
Brillant shot stopper and passer of the ball. Fits perfectly into Bielsaball.
— Damien Cummins (@Damien_Cms) December 8, 2019
In other Leeds United news, a 5 ft 6 Whites man is happy to leave Elland Road in January as the club look for offers.