Wilfried Gnonto and Patrick Bamford both struck twice as Leeds United thrashed Cardiff City 5-2 in a Third Round FA Cup replay thriller at Elland Road.
Gnonto smashed Leeds in front barely a minute into the game with a close-range volley from Rodrigo’s cross.
Rodrigo and Gnonto both then benefitted from quick-fire assists by Jack Harrison to put Leeds 3-0 up by the 36th minute.
Bamford meanwhile came on from the bench and netted twice in five minutes in the second half to complete victory.
Callum Robinson however nodded in a 84th minute effort and fired in an injury-time penalty to snatch a consolatory brace for Cardiff.
Leeds will now await a trip to the winner of Accrington Stanely’s replay against Boreham Wood, after a waterlogged pitch forced their rematch to be postponed until 24 January.
Jesse Marsch opted to field a near-full strength Leed line-up amidst a Premier League relegation battle, yet his gamble swiftly paid off with a quick-pressing start which saw Rodrigo pick out Gnonto to volley in at the left post on his right foot via the underside of the bar.
Cardiff however weren’t able to mount much response as Leeds proceeded to dominate with Sam Greenwood, Rodrigo and Gnonto all wasting further chances in the opening half hour, of which the best attempt came in the 20th minute as Gnonto flicked Greenwood’s cross over the bar.
Mark Harris meanwhile delivered Cardiff’s best chance of the first half in the 18th minute as he headed Sheyi Ojo’s cross wide from close-range.
Ojo then forced a 34th minute save from Illan Meslier which triggered a home counter-attack that culminated in Jack Harrison playing Rodrigo through unmarked, and the Spaniard calmly picked his spot unmarked to fire in Leeds’ second goal.
Marsch’s Whites consequently looked set to end their run of Third Round exits in the last five seasons, which was eventually sealed just two minutes later as Harrison this time picked out Gnonto to calmly rifle his shot in beyond Jak Alnwick.
Gnonto though found himself involved in a brief 39th minute brawl following a feisty reaction from Tom Sang who had lashed out at the Italian, and both players were booked by referee – Thomas Bramall.
Cardiff though refused to settle on limiting their losing margin into half-time and seemingly pulled a goal back two minutes from the break, as Kion Etete’s flick-on shot was nodded in by Curtis Nelson but Video Assistant Referee (VAR) chalked the goal off due to Andy Rinomhota’s offside position.
With Leeds’ lead looking unassailable at half-time whistle, both teams opted for changes at the break with one eye on crucial league fixtures at the weekend.
Leeds though were able to again continue their dominance at start of the second half, as Gonto and Marc Roca both saw shots denied in a high-tempo resumption of the match.
January signing, Max Wober though caused an injury concern as he collided with Etete in the 50th minute and had to be substituted seven minutes later for Luke Ayling, after struggling with the impact of the collision.
Gnonto missed a huge chance to claim his first senior hat-trick in the 58th minute as he picked up a backpass from an overlapping Junior Firpo, but curled his shot just wide of the near-left corner.
The 19 year-old Italian turned provider two minutes later as he teed up substitute, Bamford who rifled across goal only for Alnwick to block with his left hand.
Bamford however wasn’t denied 11 minutes later as he picked up Ayling’s pass and calmly chipped in over Alnwick’s head to put the tie beyond Cardiff’s reach.
Cardiff’s misery worsened in the 76th minute as Bamford played an one-two move with fellow substitute, Joe Gelhardt, and calmly rifled the return pass beyond Alnwick’s reach, meaning that Leeds have scored five goals in one match for the first time since beating West Brom 5-0 in December 2020.
Cardiff though denied Marsch’s Whites a clean sheet as substitute, Callum Robinson nodded in from close range via Ayling’s looped deflection of Ojo’s cross in an consolatory effort for the Bluebirds.
Robinson then won an injury-time penalty after Marc Roca unintentionally handballed his flicked pass with his right arm, which resulted in Robinson smashing his spot-kick down the middle to snatch a brace.
Leeds eventually cruised to a first appearance in the Fourth Round since 2016-17 season, which saw them suffer a shock exit at Sutton United, who were playing Non League football in that campaign.
What’s Next?
Leeds will host Brentford in a Premier League clash at Elland Road on Sunday 22 January in a 2pm GMT kick-off live on Sky Sports, as Jesse Marsch’s Whites continue their survival battle.
Cardiff meanwhile host Millwall in a crucial Sky Bet Championship clash at 3pm GMT on Saturday 21 January, as the Bluebirds continue to battle against relegation to League One.
Teams
Leeds: Illan Meslier, Junior Firpo, Rasmus Kristensen, Diego Llorente, Max Wober (Ayling 57′), Marc Roca, Tyler Adams (Aaronson 45′), Sam Greenwood, Jack Harrison (Sinisterra 79′), Rodrigo (Bamford 45′), Wilfried Gnonto (Gelhardt 67′)
Substitutes: Joel Robles, Pascal Struijk, Luka Ayling, Darko Gyabi, Brenden Aaronson, Luis Sinisterra, Patrick Bamford, Sonny Perkins, Joe Gelhardt
Cardiff: Jak Alnwick, Tom Sang, Curtis Nelson, Jack Simpson, Joel Bagan, Andy Rinomhota (Robinson 64′), Romaine Sawyers, Sheyi Ojo, Rubin Colwill (Wintle 45′), Mark Harris (Kipre 45′), Kion Etete (Davies 64′)
Substitutes: Ryan Allsop, Perry Ng, Cedric Kipre, Ryan Wintle, Gavin Whyte, Callum O’Dowda, Jaden Philogene-Bidace, Isaak Davies, Callum Robinson
Referee: Thomas Bramall
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