Salford 1-1 Leeds (9-8 on pens): Class of 92’s club dump Leeds OUT of Carabao Cup as the League Two side win a dramatic penalty shootout
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- Matt Smith put Salford in the lead before a Pascal Struijk levelled the cup tie
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Daniel Farke’s body language captured the mood perfectly. There he was, shuffling from side to side in frustration, grimacing as questions came in, sighing as he reflected where it all went wrong.
This has been a turbulent and testing introduction to life as manager of Leeds United and, in Salford’s little stadium, his headache became bigger: defeat on penalties to a League Two side – wholly avoidable given the chances that had been squandered – turning up the spotlight.
With Leeds, nothing is ever straightforward. Here, then, was a contest that characterised the way things go for them, as they climbed off the canvas a couple of times only to lose to the re-taken twentieth penalty of a dramatic shootout.
Ossama Ashley converted the crucial kick for Salford, who have reached the third round of this competition for the first time in their history, but only after Leeds keeper had saved his first attempt and been booked for encroachment. Farke, clearly, was fizzing as elimination sank in.
‘We are disappointed we are not in the next round,’ he hissed. ‘Performance wise, I cannot criticise too much. We had enough chances to score five goals but we only got one. We hit the crossbar, we hit the post but when you are five yards out put the ball in the goal!’
Salford celebrate winning the penalty shootout that saw them beat Leeds in the Carabao Cup
Alex Cairns saves Giorgiano Rutter’s penalty during the a dramatic 9-8 shootout victory
Daniel Farke can’t hide his disappointment after Leeds are eliminated from the Carabao Cup
Farke went down the tunnel at half-time and after the shootout wondering why things had to be this way. Really, they should have been out of sight before Matt Smith, a veteran striker who numbers Leeds among his eight clubs, opened the scoring in the 34th minute with a fine header.
Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto caused plenty of alarm with their pace and Summerville was desperately unlucky in the 24th minute when, after cutting inside, his curling drive thudded against a post before bouncing to safety.
Georgino Rutter fluffed two chances, Summerville, again, had a great chance smothered by Salford keeper Alex Cairns, while a thumping drive from Gnonto caused alarm for fans behind the goal as it crashed off the back of the stand. His rueful grimace and subsequent gesture of apology said it all.
Leeds threw everything at Salford in the second period and Struijk got their equaliser while Sam Greenwood, an influential substitute, almost won it in added time with a free-kick that dipped onto the woodwork.
Salford, though, were tenacious and full of character, and took their opportunity when Rutter and Jamie Shackleton missed from 12 yards. Connor McLennan squandered the first chance to put Salford through but Ashley eventually did.
‘These nights don’t come around that often,’ said Salford manager Neil Wood. ‘So you have to celebrate them when they come around and enjoy them.’
Former Leeds striker Matt Smith gave Salford the lead with a header in the first half
Salford owners Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs watch Salford alongside ex-teammate Roy Keane
