RISING Brazilian star Raphinha’s thumping finish rescued a point for Leeds United against Everton at a rocking Elland Road.

The roof nearly came off the famous old stadium as he smashed home the Whites’ second equaliser in a frenetic all-action 2-2 draw with Everton.

Earlier this month he received his first call-up for his national squad ahead of next month’s World cup qualifiers against Chile, Argentina and Peru. On this form it will be a surprise if he will not make his international debut

For many home fans it would have been the first time they had seen their new hero perform in the flesh and they were not disappointed as he created danger every time he had the ball.

The game matched the intensity of the atmosphere, packed with skill, passion, drama, intensity and a dash of VAR controversy. It was a day Leeds supporters have waited a long time for - the first home Premier League game they could attend in numbers for 17 years.

Referee Darren England allowed play to flow as two well-matched sides held nothing back on Leeds’ new £2million pitch.

While Leeds had the bulk of the play, Everton were dangerous throughout – a point not lost on United coach Marcelo Bielsa.

“The game was a big test for the team and this was multiplied because we were behind twice. To have been able to draw the game and to have dominated it for so many moments, they are aspects to value,” he said.

“But given the amount of minutes that we dominated, we should’ve created more chances at goal and we should have conceded fewer less chances. We played a game against an opponent that didn’t need to dominate us to create chances.”

Leeds lacked that midfield creator, a man who can unlock a tight defence with a killer pass. That role is expected to be filled by Rodrigo, but the Spanish international, yet to play in a white shirt with any consistency, was confined to bench duties on Saturday by a slight injury.

Leeds responded well to their opening day mauling at Manchester United and quickly got on the front foot with the returning Kalvin Phillips providing more midfield stability.

While Raphinha was giving Everton plenty to think about, the Toffees had their own box-of-tricks winger in Demari Gray whose brilliant run and cross came within a fraction of an opener for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The England forward gave Leeds skipper Liam Cooper a difficult afternoon. When the pair grappled as the ball entered the Leeds box on 29 minutes a penalty was awarded after a VAR check. Calvert-Lewin drove Everton ahead from the spot. Eleven minutes later Leeds levelled, Patrick Bamford took advantage of hesitancy by Michael Keane to feed Mateusz Klich who clipped the ball past Jordan Pickford.

The excellent Gray restored the visitors’ lead on 50 minutes by shooting through Stuart Dallas’ legs past Ilan Meslier, who then made two fine saves to deny Calvert-Lewin as Leeds threatened to implode as they had at Old Trafford the previous week.

But Leeds gradually regained their composure to grab a point thanks to the 72nd minute brilliance of Raphina who has scored against Everton on each of his three appearances against the Merseysiders.

York-based youngster Niall Huggins, who has been with the Leeds Acadamy since 2009, has joined League One club Sunderland in a permanent deal.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Cooper, Struijk, Firpo (Shackleton 60), Phillips, Dallas, Klich (Roberts 60), Raphinha, Harrison, Bamford. Subs (not used): Klaesson, Forshaw, Costa, Rodrigo, Cresswell, Drameh, Summerville. Cautions: Cooper, Bamford

Everton: Pickford, Keane, Coleman, Mina, Digne, Allan, Doucoure, Iwobi (Townsend 75), Gray (Delph 83), Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin (Kean 90). Subs (not used): Begovic, Kenny, Holgate, Gbamin, Davies, Branthwaite. Cautions: Mina, Digne, Coleman, Doucoure (Everton)

Referee: Darren England Att: 36,293