Leeds were missing ten first team players but were quickly on the front foot and almost went ahead in the ninth minute when a fine pass from Rasmus Kristensen released Sam Greenwood who sent in a low cross which Joe Gelhardt sent narrowly wide on the stretch. But the Whites were dominating and went ahead in the 13th minute when a Marc Roca corner was met by Robin Koch who headed home a neat finish at the near post. Monaco offered very little but equalised in the 25th minute when a cross from the right flank was headed back across goal and met by Breel Embolo to smash home.
Leeds continued to impress and a brilliant cross field pass from Brenden Aaronson played in Kristensen whose shot back across goal was cleared near the line. After a fine ball from Roca, another Kristensen cross then narrowly evaded Gelhardt who was denied a penalty after tangling with keeper Alexander Nubel. The excellent Koch was replaced by Diego Llorente at the interval and Monaco went ahead just two minutes after the restart when Gelson Batalha Martins tucked home an easy chance after Leeds had been cut open down the left.
Worse was to follow as Monaco then went 3-1 up five minutes later as Ismail Jakobs fired home as Leeds failed to clear a corner at which Luke Ayling was out jumped for a knockdown. Monaco then bagged a fourth just three minutes later as poor control from Kristensen led to Leeds being scythed apart and the visitors worked the ball down the right where Embolo blasted home.
Leeds attempted to rally and Willy Gnonto was by far the brightest spark in the final half hour but three efforts failed to beat keeper Nubel. The Whites looked set to fall to a 4-1 defeat but Gnonto was felled in the area for a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time after Junior Firpo's cross and Joe Gelhardt stepped up to slam home the spot kick.
Leeds United writer Lee Sobot hands out the scores from a real game of two halves at Elland Road.
7. Marc Roca
6 - Pretty similar to Forshaw in the first half although caught out a tad more when looking to press on. Kept battling after the break but Leeds clearly miss Tyler Adams in the middle of the park. Photo: Ashley Allen
8. Sam Greenwood
6 - Very energetic from the off and a decent enough display in the first half but unable to really replicate that after the interval. Photo: Ashley Allen
9. Willy Gnonto
7 - Struggled to get involved in the first half as most of the Leeds threat came down the right but by far United's brightest spark after the break, charging forward and winning a late penalty after continually going close. Photo: Ashley Allen
10. Brenden Aaronson
7 - Extremely sharp in just his second game back after the World Cup in the first half. Full of energy and tricks. Faded after the break but given a very warm reception for his efforts when taken off with ten minutes left. Photo: Ashley Allen
11. Joe Gelhardt
6 - Went agonisingly close to bagging a first half brace and might have had a penalty. Not his night but didn't stop running. Deserved his goal via the stoppage time penalty. Photo: Ashley Allen
12. Diego Llorente (sub)
4 - Had a hard act to follow replacing the impressive Koch at the interval and the Leeds defending was appalling in a 15-minute spell after the break. In fairness, that wasn't just down to Llorente and more a collective but Leeds suddenly looked fragile without Koch at centre-half and Llorente was unable to anticipate or get a foot in when it mattered. A night to forget on his comeback from injury. Photo: Bryn Lennon