NORWICH CITY: PENALTIES SEE LEEDS EDGE CLASSIC

NORWICH CITY: PENALTIES SEE LEEDS EDGE CLASSIC

Leeds progress to the quarter finals of the EFL Cup.

EFL Cup Round Four

Leeds United 2 (Antonsson 43, Wood 109) Norwich City 2 (Pritchard 14, Oliveira 99)

Leeds win 3-2 on penalties

Marco Silvestri and Ronaldo Vieira were the hero’s as ten men Leeds United progressed to the quarter finals of the EFL Cup after a penalty shootout victory against Norwich, in a classic tie at Elland Road.

Head coach Garry Monk made eight changes to the side that defeated Wolves on Saturday for the visit of the Canaries, with United looking to preserve a run of five matches undefeated on home soil.

Norwich nearly raced into the lead though straight from the kick-off, Steven Naismith went through on goal but he couldn’t get the better of Leeds goalkeeper Silvestri.

Naismith had another great chance less than five minutes later, he was picked out in the box by Alex Pritchard, but he could only fire over.

The Canaries bright start to the match was rewarded in the 14th minute, on the counter attack Robbie Brady whipped in a fine ball and Pritchard scored at the back post with a diving header.

Silvestri was twice called into action again, first from Brady whose fine curling effort was tipped over the bar by the Leeds stopper.  From the corner Nelson Oliveira had a free volley, but Silvestri kept Norwich’s lead within reach.

Six minutes from the break Leeds thought they were level from a corner, however the goal was disallowed and Kyle Bartley was shown a yellow card for handball.

Silvestri’s saves were rewarded just before the interval when Leeds equalised.  Kemar Roofe beat Ben Godfrey on flank, Souleymane Doukara poked goal-wards and Marcus Antonsson tapped home.

Half Time: Leeds United 1-1 Norwich City

Ten minutes into the second half Leeds were almost in front, Alex Mowatt delivered a great corner and Souleymane Doukara was only denied by a brilliant save from John Ruddy.

Just after the hour mark Oliveira went close twice, firing over the crossbar from range, before forcing Silvestri into a good save.

In the 70th minute Leeds nearly went in front again.  Doukara crossed, substitute Chris Wood and Ruddy both missed the ball and Mowatt had the goal gaping, but could only put his effort over the crossbar.

Wood then had a low effort saved causing Ruddy to parry, but the Norwich stopper regathered at the second attempt.

Silvestri was once more called upon as Canaries substitute Sergi Canos tried his luck from range, but the Leeds goalkeeper would not be beaten.

Full Time: Leeds United 1-1 Norwich City

Leeds were reduced to ten men in extra time, Lewie Coyle suffered an injury in the last minute of normal time was unable to continue, with Monk having already used all three substitutes.

Norwich took full advantage of the extra man, starting the third period brightly.  They won a corner in the 99th minute, the ball came back out to Pritchard who delivered a cross and Oliveira headed home.

Extra Time Half Time: Leeds United 1-2 Norwich City

Leeds continued to rally though and hit back in the 109th minute.  Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips made superb sliding challenges in the middle of the park to win possession before Matt Grimes sent Hadi Sacko away.  He crossed low, Ruddy got a hand to it, but he couldn’t prevent fellow substitute Wood from tapping home to lift the roof off Elland Road.

Oliveira and Gaetano Berardi both tried long range efforts to win the game, but neither could find the target, sending the game to penalties.

Extra Time Full Time: Leeds United 2-2 Norwich City

Graham Dorrans and Chris Wood both scored the first penalties for Norwich and Leeds in front of the Kop.

Silvestri saved the next two from Pritchard and Naismith and Kemar Roofe fired Leeds into a 2-1 lead.

Phillips had the chance to put Leeds further in front, but saw his penalty saved and Oliveira levelled the scores at 2-2.

Matt Grimes then fired over United’s fourth penalty, keeping the scores level, but Silvestri saved Norwich’s fifth effort, his third penalty save in the shootout.

Ronaldo Vieira then stepped up to win it for Leeds and superbly converted to spark mass celebrations and put Leeds through.

Penalties: Leeds United 3-2 Norwich City

United: Silvestri, Berardi, Bartley, Cooper, Coyle, Grimes, Mowatt (Sacko 76), Vieira, Roofe, Doukara (Phillips 81), Antonsson (Wood 67). Subs not used: Green, Taylor, Ayling, O’Kane.

Norwich: Ruddy, Godfrey (Turner 77), Bennett, Bassong, Brady, Tettey (Dorrans 46), Thompson, Murphy (Canos 71), Naismith, Pritchard, Oliveira.  Subs not used: Jones, Lafferty, Morris, Ramsay.

Booked: Bartley, Mowatt, Silvestri (Leeds), Bennett, Dorrans, Canos (Norwich)

Referee: A. Woolmer

Venue: Elland Road

Attendance: 22,222 (1,905 Norwich)

 

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