Leeds’ defence let them down once again, but their attackers managed to save the day and spare them from going out the FA Cup against EFL Championship side Cardiff City on Sunday evening. After 90 thrilling minutes, it finished 2-2.Bluebirds’ last win came in late November when they surprisingly beat Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup. They played five games in the Championship since, drawing four and losing one. They certainly look like a team more adjusted to playing against Premier League opposition.The club from the Welsh capital dominated in the opening 45 minutes and looked like a team capable of destroying any opponents. They player knocked the ball around confidently, controlled the proceedings at their Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd and scored two goals, taking advantage of any Leeds error.#AVFC loanee Jaden Philogene-Bidace scoring against Leeds in the FA Cup for Cardiff 😊pic.twitter.com/G2dLUSYICH— Aston Villa Toronto Lions 🇨🇦 (@TorontoLions) January 8, 2023 The whites’ boss Jesse Marsch said before this game that the club wanted a Cup run. It hasn’t looked like it on this evidence. They’ve gifted Cardiff two goals while offering little going forward.Leeds made another defensive error and it costs them midway through the first half. Pascal Struijk failed to clear a ball, thinking goalkeeper Joel Robles would come to claim, but instead it gifts a route to goal for Mark Harris. His effort is saved by Robles, but the ball breaks for Isaak Davies and then Aston Villa’s on-loan youngster Jaden Philogene-Benice to place into the net.It should have been a warning to Leeds, but they let the hosts double the lead just five minutes later. Sheyi Ojo strolled into the box, chested a nice pass down and fired it high into the net with Leeds defenders nothing but onlookers.Joe Gelhardt set up a chance for Brenden Aaronson to reduce the lead, but goalkeeper Jak Alnwick did well to leave his line and clear.
Pascal Struijk was already a villain in front of his net, but he made a big mistake in Cardiff’s box too. He had a great chance to score from a Sam Greenwood’s cross, but the Dutchman fired inexplicably wide from a great postiion. There was still around 30 minutes to go, and Leeds had to step up their game.Greenwood proved the supplier once more as he delivered a pinpoint cross for Rodrigo to steer home and set up a nervous final quarter of the tie.
Leeds were given a great chance to level ten minutes from time. Rodrigo got away down the left and forced a save from Alnwick, Junior Firpo followed it up, but defender Joel Bagan kept it out with his hand. It was a penalty and a red card.
But Alnwick, former Newcastle United goalie, saved Rodrigo’s penalty and put his team on the brink of the fourth round.However, just as the home fans were celebrating a famous win, young Sonny Perkins, who only joined Leeds a few months ago from West Ham, flicked a Junior Firpo pass in the back of the net and sparked huge celebrations from the noisy travelling fans.Leeds survived to fight another day. The two teams will meet again at Elland Road.FA CUP Third round FridayManchester United – Everton 3-1 (1-1)/Antony 4, Coady 52 og, Rashford 90+7 pen – Coady 14/SaturdayCrystal Palace – Southampton 1-2 (1-1)/Edouard 14 – Ward-Prowse 37, Armstrong 68/Gillingham – Leicester 0-1 (0-0)/Iheanacho 56/Preston – Huddersfield 3-1 (0-0)/Lees 60 og, Diaby 73, Browne 85 – Kamberi 57/Reading – Watford 2-0 (1-0/Abrefa 45+3, Long 90+3/Tottenham – Portsmouth 1-0 (0-0)/Kane 50/Blackpool – Nottingham Forest 4-1 (1-0)/Ekpiteta 17, Poveda 64, Hamilton 71, J Yates 87 – R Yates 90+2/Boreham Wood – Accrington 1-1 (0-1)/Ndlovu 78 – Astley 6/Bournemouth – Burnley 2-4 (1-3)/Christie 12, Solanke 48 – Benson 6, 57, Zaroury 39, 43/Chesterfield – West Brom 3-3 (3-2)/Williams 7, Dobra 36, 41 – Thomas-Asante 2, Grant 17, Asante 90+4/Fleetwood – QPR 2-1 (1-1)/Nsiala 40, Omochere 67 – Field 37/Hull – Fulham 0-2 (0-1)/Kurzawa 37, James 90+4/Ipswich – Rotherham 4-1 (1-0)/Humphreys 43, Chaplin 74 pen, Ladapo 79, Burns 87 pen – Washington 47 pen/Middlesbrough – Brighton 1-5 (1-2)/Akpom 13 – Gross 8, Lallana 29, Mac Allister 58, 80, Undav 88/Millwall – Sheffield United 0-2 (0-2)/Jebbison 23, Bogle 36/Shrewsbury – Sunderland 1-2 (0-0)/Pennington 80 – Stewart 90+1, O’Nien 90+4/Brentford – West Ham 0-1 (0-0)/Benrahma 79/Coventry – Wrexham 3-4 (1-3)/Shaef 36, Gyokeres 69, Palmer 76 – Dalby 12, Lee 18, O’Connor 45+6, Mullin 58 pen/Grimsby – Burton 1-0 (0-0)/Richardson 76/Luton – Wigan 1-1 (1-1)/Cornick 45+1 – Naylor 17/Sheffield Wednesday – Newcastle United 2-1 (0-0)/Windass 52, 65 – Guimaraes 69/Liverpool – Wolverhampton 2-2 (1-1)/Nunez 45, Salah 52 – Guedes 26, Hwang 67/SundayBristol City – Swansea 1-1 (0-1)/Semenyo 75 – Piroe 15/Derby – Barnsley 3-0 (1-0)/Collins 45+1, Barkhuizen 60, Knight 79/Cardiff – Leeds 2-2 (2-0)/Philogene 24, Ojo 31 – Rodrigo 65 pen, Perkins 90+3/Hartlepool – Stoke 0-3 (0-2)/Murray 16 og, Brown 43, Menayese 48 og/Norwich – Blackburn 0-1 (0-1)/Vale 31/Stockport – Wallsall 1-2 (0-0)/Madden 88 – Johnson 63, Williams 90+5 pen/19:30 Aston Villa – Stevenage19:30 Manchester City – ChelseaMonday23:00 Oxford United – Arsenal***odds are subject to change***