EFL Cup Round Two
Nottingham Forest 0
Leeds United 2 (James 50’, Nmecha 75’)
Forest: Sels (GK), Diomande (Murillo 60’), Williams (Hutchinson 79’), Domínguez, Wood (C), Jesus (Ndoye 60’), Kalimuendo (Hudson-Odoi 60’), Schlager, Cunha, Milenkovic, Aina (Netz 61’). Subs not used: Victor (GK), Sangaré, McAtee, Abott.
Leeds: Trafford (GK), Ampadu (C), Muharemović, Rodon, James (Bogle 71’), Longstaff (Wilson 67’), Nmecha (Calvert-Lewin 83’), Okafor (Aaronson 67’), Tanaka (Stach 68’), Justin, Elvedi. Subs not used: Perri (GK), Bijol, Cresswell, Lienou.
Venue: City Ground | Attendance: 24,542 | Referee: Andrew Kitchen | Booked: Schlager, Cunha, Murillo, Domínguez (Forest) Tanaka, Longstaff, Ampadu (Leeds)
Leeds United’s impressive start to the new term continued as second half goals from Daniel James and Lukas Nmecha brought a victory over Nottingham Forest and progression to Round Three of the EFL Cup.
The result marked successive wins over the Reds after Anton Stach’s free kick had fired the Whites to an opening day Premier League success at the same venue.
Returning to the City Ground for the second time in just four days, Daniel Farke made six changes to the team that recorded the curtain-raising triumph in the East Midlands, notably including a debut for defender Nico Elvedi.
The tie was slow in bursting into life in the opening stages, with England international James Trafford’s save to deny a wayward Ola Aina delivery the first real action in either final third.
Then, the defensive services of versatile full-back James Justin were called upon, making a crucial header off the line to clear Igor Jesus’ goal bound header.
Immediately down the other end, the Whites broke through James who crossed low looking for Nmecha but, under pressure from a red shirt, the striker was unable to direct an effort on target.
Leeds ventured forward once more moments later as Noah Okafor marauded over the half-way line and released James down the right flank. The Wales international’s delivery was only partially cleared, falling the way of Ao Tanaka who volleyed over from the edge of the area.
United’s clearest sight of the Forest goal yet came when skipper Ethan Ampadu picked out the run of James in behind the Reds’ backline. The attacker darted into the box and cut the ball back for the onrushing Sean Longstaff to strike, though Matz Sels was equal to the low shot.
On the half-hour mark, the hosts countered and Chris Wood would have had a great chance to open the scoring if not for a sublime retreating challenge by Joe Rodon. The travelling contingent behind the goal certainly enjoyed it, cheering as if the defender had opened the scoring himself!
If the opening stages were cagey, the fixture had quickly become an end-to-end affair and James went close, denied by Sels, before Nmecha flicked an audacious attempt narrowly beyond the upright with Andrew Kitchen’s half-time whistle sounding shortly afterwards.
HALF TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-0 Leeds United
Farke’s side emerged from the break and began the second period on the front foot, dominating possession as they searched for the opener.
And just five minutes in, United took the lead! After wrestling back possession in the hosts’ half, Longstaff threaded an intricate pass through for James to race onto. The Welsh forward darted into the area and lifted a composed finish over Sels and into the back of the net!
Looking for a quickfire response, Wood drilled a powerful effort towards the bottom corner which Trafford denied in spectacular fashion, low to his left at full stretch.
From there, Leeds broke at an electric pace after clever play by Nmecha. The forward released Okafor who cut onto his right foot and whipped a rasping shot just wide of the post.
Just after the hour mark, Trafford made another important intervention, this time tipping a powerful Nicolás Domínguez drive over the crossbar.
First activity from the bench brought a triple change as Stach, Harry Wilson and Brenden Aaronson were all introduced, replacing Tanaka, Longstaff and Okafor respectively.
Saturday’s match winner went close to grabbing a second in as many games just moments after coming on, firing wide from distance. Goalscorer James then made way for Jayden Bogle.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, the lead was doubled and in quite bizarre fashion. Tarik Muharemović initially did brilliantly to flick an Ampadu long throw towards the back post where between Justin and Nmecha, the ball was scrambled over the line, sending the away end wild!
That proved to be the German’s final involvement as he was replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin with the clock winding down until the full-time whistle sounded, signalling United’s progression to the next stage of the competition!
The draw for Round Three of the tournament will take place at around 10:30pm on Wednesday 26th August.
FULL TIME: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Leeds United
