Mixed emotions for Kalvin Phillips as Leeds United magic moment repeated but Sheffield United frustration follows
Kalvin Phillips recreated the famous free-kick moment from his Leeds United days as he finally completed 90 minutes for Sheffield United - but emotions were mixed as his first league goal since 2021 was not enough to prevent defeat at Stoke City.
The end result may have left him with mixed emotions as Sheffield United were denied what would have been a huge result by two late goals at Stoke City. But after a difficult period in his career, the feeling of completing 90 minutes will have meant a lot to Kalvin Phillips.
His last full game came in March 2025, on loan at Ipswich Town, and Phillips marked the milestone on Saturday with a first league goal since 2021, when he was still at Leeds United.
There were definite similarities between the two free-kicks, too, with both catching out the goalkeeper at the near post from a similar position on the pitch. But this one did not prove to be in a winning cause as stunners from Jack McGlynn and Sam Gallagher broke United hearts and condemned them to a fourth defeat in their last five games.
“I'm delighted to score a goal, but my ultimate goal is to get three points,” he said afterwards. “Regardless of whether I score or don't, I always want to win the game.
“And we weren't able to do that. But I'm happy to play 90 minutes, as it's been a long time since I've done that as well.
“Now it's just a case of playing as much as possible and getting as many points on the board as we possibly can, together, as a team. We'll keep going and keep fighting when we come back.”
Phillips returned to Bramall Lane late in the summer as all parties waited for him to overcome a pre-season fitness issue, but he has now started United's last two league games and is looking to continue that progress after the international break.
“I'm getting there,” Phillips said. “Obviously it's been a long time since I've completed a full game and I signed very late in pre-season, so I'm not quite up to speed.
“But I'm just happy to be out there and playing and enjoying myself ... and that's the main thing.”
Phillips put United ahead after spotting Viktor Johansson slightly out of position as Stoke set up for the free-kick. “It's a funny story to be fair,” Phillips said.
“I put the ball down and I looked at the goalkeeper and his positioning. I said to the ref as he was spraying: ‘Do you reckon I could shoot here?’
“And he said: ‘If it was me, I wouldn't shoot.’ But then [Johansson] stayed in that position and I just thought: ‘I might as well have a go.’
“To go on and lose it, it's a bit sickening. I thought we did well for 70 minutes and controlled the game well. We probably could have played a little bit more after our goal.
“But then it's just two really good goals, really. We can't really say much about it. We probably could have got out to the first one, but it's very difficult when we're defending like that.
“And then the second one is just one of those. Yeah, it's a sickening feeling, but we'll have a good few weeks off and come back fighting and ready to go.”