Leeds United survived a huge FA Cup scare on Sunday as they were forced to pull back a two goals deficit against Championship side Cardiff City to earn a 2-2 draw.
The West Yorkshire giants have not done well in the FA Cup in recent seasons and it looked highly likely they were making an early exit again when the Bluebirds, lowest scorers in the Championship, raced into a first half 2-0 lead. Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojo took advantage of slack Leeds defending to put the hosts in command but the game turned on a couple of key moments in the second period.
Jesse Marsch brought on the experienced Rodrigo and he had an immediate impact, heading home a cross from Sam Greenwood and it was game on. The big moment came on 80 minutes when Joel Bagan conceded a penalty for hand ball and was red carded, but Rodrigo’s penalty was saved. From then on it was attack versus defence as Leeds battered the ten men of Wales and then, finally, they broke through when 18 year old Sonny Perkins got on the end of a Junior Firpo cross and stabbed home a 93rd minute equaliser.
Leeds Premier League results have been improving of late and this fight back will help Marsch’s men to maintain some momentum.
Wolves denied by VAR
Wolves head coach Julen Lopetegui was totally baffled and somewhat annoyed in the aftermath of his side’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool which, on the face of it, was a good result at Anfield. The visitors though they had won the game when Toti back-heeled a cross from Hwang Hee-Chan into the net, with less than ten minutes remaining, and the hoards of Wolves fans went crazy. But crazy with joy turned to mad with rage when VAR upheld an offside flag in the build up, even though the VAR official did not have a camera angle of the incident and it looked like the linesman had got it wrong. But Liverpool breathed a sigh of relief and will live to fight again in the replay at Molineux.
“We have seen it and the offside doesn’t exist” raged Lopetegui, though the Wolves boss will be pleased how his side fought back to come so close to winning the tie. Goncalo Guedes had given Wolves a shock lead after Alisson had made a huge error in the Liverpool goal to pass straight to the gleeful striker. But goals either side of half time from Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez put the Reds in charge before Hwang equalised mid way through the second half.
But the real drama was still to come and Wolves fans can feel rightly angry.
Liverpool can think themselves lucky. With Manchester City and Chelsea still to play, the Reds are one of the favourites to win this competition according to the latest FA Cup 2023 betting odds but they could so easily have been out.
Owls see off the Magpies
VAR was not in play as League One side Sheffield Wednesday beat Premier League high flyers Newcastle United in an action packed clash at Hillsborough. This was one of the FA Cup 2023 results of the round as it was only Newcastle’s second defeat of the season, in any competition; the last setback coming against Liverpool in the league back in August. In form striker Josh Windass was the Owls’ hero, scoring twice in the second half to put his side in charge. But when Bruno Guimaraes pulled one back it made it a nervy finish. Windass has scored five goals this week having scored a hat-trick in the Owls’ 5-0 destruction of Cambridge and he almost made it another three, but when he unleashed a superb long range shot his effort was denied by the crossbar.
Wednesday held on though Newcastle striker Chris Wood missed a sitter to make it ten games unbeaten in all competitions and, at SBOTOP odds of 2.60 the Owls are second favourites to win League One; meanwhile, the Geordies crashed out of the FA Cup at the third round stage for the third year in succession.
Boreham Wood are at it again
National League side Boreham Wood can’t get enough of the FA Cup; they currently sit 13th in the fifth tier of English football but have reached the third round of this competition for three seasons in a row, last year making it to the fifth round. They have won 11 FA Cup ties since the start of the 2020-21 season and while they couldn’t beat Accrington Stanley they are in the draw for the fourth round this year.
The Lancashire club was expected to beat Boreham and when Ryan Astley gave Accrington a lead it looked like the game was up, but Lee Ndlovu had different ideas and his powerful header on 78 minutes ensured the minnows live to fight another day. And if they beat Stanley on their own patch, Boreham Wood will play the winners of Leeds United and Cardiff City. What about that?!
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
