%20Logo%204.png){kind=small}
Leeds United start their FA Cup campaign on Sunday with a trip to League Two side Crawley Town. We take a look back at some of the Whites' third-round ties from recent seasons.
Arsenal 1-0 Leeds United (06/01/20)
Last season in the FA Cup, Leeds fell at the first hurdle at the hands of Premier League side Arsenal. Even though the result saw the Whites bow out of the Cup, the game will be remembered for the fantastic first-half display shown by Marcelo Bielsa's men.
It was the first time Leeds had come up against a Premier League side under Bielsa and they showed their worth. The Whites should've been ahead at the break as in the first half: Patrick Bamford slammed the crossbar from close range, Gjanni Alioksi had multiple efforts saved by Emi Martinez and other great attacking moves just lacked an end product.
Arsenal upped their game in the second half and took the lead through a scrappy goal from Reiss Nelson. United struggled to create an opening after Arsenal scored, but the good account they made of themselves had everyone talking about Bielsa and Leeds United. Leeds would go on to win promotion to the Premier League later on that season after a 16-year absence from the top-flight, winning the Championship title.
The night will also be remembered for Illan Meslier's debut in goal and young midfielder Robbie Gotts' first appearance for the club.
QPR 2-1 Leeds United (06/0/19)
Another third-round exit for Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United, this time away at Loftus Road. Bielsa named a side that consisted of a mix of experience and youth with the likes of Luke Ayling, Adam Forshaw, and Gjanni Alioksi playing alongside Jack Clarke, Jamie Shackleton, Leif Davis, Tyler Roberts and Aapo Halme.
The Whites were under the cosh early on and gave away a first-half penalty, Leif Davis the culprit. Leeds were then back on level terms through Aapo Halme as he followed in a free-kick that was spilled by the Rangers' keeper.
A late Jake Bidwell header from a corner assured that the home side would progress to round four, which allowed Leeds to concentrate on their promotion aspirations that season.
Newport County 2-1 Leeds United (07/01/18)
This is a game that Leeds fans will remember as the start of the end for Head Coach at the time, Thomas Christiansen, as well as their promotion hopes.
Amidst all the negativity that surrounded the game, the Whites got off to the best possible start through an unlikely goal scorer. Gaetano Berardi's long-range effort found the back of the net, sparking wild celebrations on and off the pitch. A rendition of "Berardi scores, we're on the pitch" could be heard from the Leeds fans in attendance.
However, that was as good as it got on the day for Christiansen's men as Newport grew in confidence and were rallied on by their home fans. They finally made the breakthrough in the 76th minute through Connor Shaughnessy's own goal and won the game in the dying embers of the match as Shawn McCoulsky headed home.
Things went from bad to worse for United as star play-maker Samu Saiz was sent off by referee Mike Dean for spitting at a Newport player. The Spaniard would see his match ban extended to six games, ruling him out of league action.
Cambridge United 1-2 Leeds United (09/01/17)
Leeds United have not progressed past the third round of the FA Cup since the 2016/17 season with Gary Monk at the helm.
The Whites fell behind in the first half to a smart turn and shot by Uche Ikpeazu at Marco Silvestri's near post, but equalised in the 56th minute through a Stuart Dallas header from close range.
Leeds-born midfielder Alex Mowatt netted the winner. Defender Pontus Jansson rose highest from a corner and Mowatt deflected the Swede's header goalwards past 'keeper Will Norris.
Sutton United were Leeds' opponents in the fourth round, and the National League side caused one of the biggest FA Cup shocks of all time as they beat Leeds 1-0 at The Knights Community Stadium.
Leeds United 2-0 Rotherham United (09/01/16)
Steve Evans took charge of his first FA Cup game as manager of Leeds United, as the Whites beat Rotherham 2-0 at Elland Road to make it through to round four.
Debutant Mustapha Carayol scored a screamer on the stroke half-time, smashing the ball from the left corner of the box into the top left corner of the net. Leeds doubled their lead towards the end of the game as Souleymane Doukara capitalised on a mistake in the Rotherham backline and tapped into an empty net.
Leeds progressed to round five of the FA Cup that season but were knocked out away at Premier League side Watford. A calamitous own goal in the second-half from Scott Wootton secured a 1-0 victory for the Hornets.
Comentários