Ivan Toney scored a spectacular hat-trick as Brentford beat Leeds 5-2 in a thrilling encounter.

The Bees got in front on the half-hour mark after being awarded a penalty following a lengthy VAR check.

Toney duly stepped up to dispatch the spot-kick before lashing a terrific free-kick into the top corner two minutes before the break. 

Leeds pulled one back on the stroke of half-time, however, as Luis Sinisterra flicked the ball over Rico Henry's head before arrowing into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. 

Toney completed his hat-trick in the 58th minute to make it 3-1, dribbling past the onrushing Illan Meslier before producing a cool chip from the edge of the box. 

The visitors halved the deficit a second time through Marc Roca with 11 minutes remaining but Bryan Mbeumo restored the hosts' two-goal advantage almost immediately before substitute Yoane Wissa then put the game to bed in stoppage time.

Leeds manager Jesse Marsch insisted his side need to learn from their mistakes.

The American, 48, said: "We're disappointed and frustrated that we gave away too many easy chances and goals and made too many mistakes. But we also showed our character in some moments and also got ourselves back in the game. 

"We have to learn from these situations, especially when you play away from home. We talked before the match about Brentford being a smart team who know how to play to their strengths. 

"We knew we had to limit their set-piece opportunities and chances to play on the counter. We didn't do enough of that today and it wound up costing us."

Brentford boss Thomas Frank, meanwhile, encouraged his players to enjoy their positive start to the season.

He said: "It felt much better to be ahead — it's a better position to be in, definitely. 

"Leeds edged the first half in terms of performance — they looked a little bit better on the eye and caused us problems in the final third, without us giving anything away. 

"But in both boxes we were very good. Defensively in the first half, and at the other end we scored two goals and had two big chances. That's a very big threat. 

"In the second half, I really think we gave too much away. But on counter-attacks and creating chances — wow, we are such a threat going forward. 

"When you win 5-2 in only our second season in the Premier League, we need to celebrate every win. It was well-deserved but we need to work on the defensive side."

Did you know?

Five of the 11 Premier League hat-tricks scored against Leeds have come in London — only Southampton (six) have shipped more in the competition in the capital among non-London sides.

Brentford have scored five or more goals in a Premier League game for the first time ever, last doing so in a top-flight game in 1938 against Grimsby.

Since their return to the Premier League in 2020, Leeds have conceded 14 penalty goals in the competition, with only Wolves shipping more in that time (16).

Toney netted his sixth career hat-trick in English football (three for Brentford, three for Peterborough), with the striker passing the 50-goal mark for Brentford in all competitions (52 in 96 appearances), becoming the first player to hit that milestone for the Bees since Clayton Donaldson (53 between 2011 and 2014).

Sinisterra is the first player to score in each of his first three starts for Leeds in all competitions since Ramón Nunez in August 2011.

There was just one minute and three seconds between Roca’s goal for Leeds and Mbeuno’s for Brentford.