Match Recap: Cardiff City 2-2 Leeds United

Does a replay count as a cup run? Leeds United had to do it the hard way in order to keep themselves in the FA Cup, coming back from two goals down to draw with Cardiff.

After a bright opening ten minutes or so from the visitors, typical Leeds gifted their opponents the lead. A catastrophic and scrappy moment for The Whites at the back led to a tap-in for Jaden Philogene despite Joel Robles’ initial save.

Leeds found themselves two down with it all to do on the half-hour mark as Rinomhota’s delicious ball over the top was beautifully controlled and finished by Sheyi Ojo at the near post.

It took a triple substitution on the hour-mark for Leeds to kick into gear, as Rodrigo made an immediate impact just six minutes after coming on. Gnonto took a quick corner to Greenwood, who anticipated Philogene’s challenge, avoided the blue jersey and found the head of Rodrigo who made no mistake in getting Leeds back in the game.

Rodrigo should’ve doubled his tally and equalised for The Whites when Joel Bagan was sent off for impersonating a goalkeeper when stopping Junior Firpo from tapping the ball in from close range. Rodrigo took the spot kick, but he could not beat Alnwick between the sticks, leaving Leeds with the task of breaking down a 10-man Cardiff team parked in front of their goal.

Substitute Mateo Joseph might have been the hero for Leeds when Rodrigo was sent through on the right channel, chopping the ball across to his protege, Joseph at the near post. Some would argue he should have scored, and other would argue the ball was too difficult to take, being just behind him, but either way, Joseph missed the target.

18-year-old Sonny Perkins was introduced with less than five minutes of normal time to go, but ended up being the hero when he prodded home Junior Firpo’s saucy flick on from the preceding corner kick, keeping Leeds in the FA Cup, for now.