Report: Plymouth Argyle 1-4 Leeds United
Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round Replay
Plymouth Argyle 1 (Galloway 78’)
Leeds United 4 (Gnonto 66’, Summerville 97’, Georginio 111’, Gruev 117’)
Plymouth: Hazard (GK), Mumba, Edwards (C) (Wayne 105’), Hardie, Whittaker, Wright (Issaka 72’) Gibson, Randell, Galloway (Scarr 105’), Phillips, Sorinola (Roberts 77’). Subs not used: Burton (GK), Matthews.
Leeds: Meslier (GK), Firpo, Cooper (C), Piroe, Kamara (Gray 71’), Anthony (Georginio 81’), Rodon, Byram (Summerville 90’), Gnonto (Gelhardt 71’), Gruev, Joseph (Bamford 81’). Subs not used: Klaesson (GK), van den Heuvel (GK), Ampadu, Cresswell.
Referee: Rob Jones
Booked: Wright, Phillips, Galloway (Plymouth) Rodon (Leeds)
Venue: Home Park
Attendance: 16,636
Leeds United made the trip to the South Coast on Tuesday, to face Plymouth Argyle in this Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round replay.
Having met 10 days previously at Elland Road, a second match was needed to determine who would progress to the Fifth Round, with Chelsea or Aston Villa the potential opponents.
In another equally close encounter, extra-time was required, in which Daniel Farke’s side scored twice to move into the next round of the competition!
When this one got underway under the rain-soaked turf in Devon, the home side pushed high early and looked to get in the faces of Farke’s side.
However, despite the early pressure from the Pilgrims, it was Leeds who came closest with the first two chances. Mateo Joseph burst into the box and struck a powerful effort which was tipped onto the woodwork by Conor Hazard.
Just a few minutes later and Leeds would be denied by the frame of the goal again. This time Glen Kamara did well to push forward and lay the ball off to Joel Piroe, who unleashed a powerful effort, cannoning back off the crossbar.
At the other end, Illan Meslier was called into action for the first time, being made to save from Joe Edwards who had struck a low effort towards the near post.
Two important pieces of defending followed from Leeds. Firstly, Sam Byram made a crucial clearance from a dangerous ball into the box. Then it was Joe Rodon throwing his body on the line this time, as he stopped Matthew Sorinola’s strike at close range.
Despite the effort of each side, no goals were forthcoming in the opening 45 minutes, meaning the game was level when the teams went in at the break.
HALF TIME: Plymouth Argyle 0-0 Leeds United
Inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half, Leeds had started well and created three good openings, all of which caused problems.
Piroe had the first two shots on goal, from which one was saved by Hazard and the other well blocked, before Joseph then struck a low effort which was deflected narrowly past the post.
Following a sustained spell of pressure and control of the ball, the Whites got the goal their play had deserved and went into the lead.
Byram won the ball back on the wing, he played it inside the Joseph who in turn laid it off for Kamara to find Willy Gnonto on the edge of the box. The Italian then took a touch out of his feet and smashed low into the bottom corner!
With the game approaching the final 10 minutes, the hosts equalised from a deep free-kick into the box. Arriving at the back post was Ashley Phillips, who played it across goal for Brendan Galloway to turn it home with his chest.
Farke went straight to his bench following the goal, bringing on Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter, to freshen up the attack.
In the final moments of the game, both teams had chances to win it. Down the left wing, Junior Firpo chipped the ball back to the edge of the box, where substitute Joe Gelhardt struck it first home, but for a third time in the game, the Whites were denied by the woodwork.
At the other end, Meslier made a good stop to stop Plymouth winning it, with a strong hand to deny Ryan Hardie. Shortly after that, the whistle went, signalling extra-time.
END OF 90 MINUTES: Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Leeds United
EXTRA TIME
The rain was still lashing down as the game entered the next 30 minutes. Pushing forward, it was Leeds who had the first chances. Both Georginio and Rodon forced saves from Hazard, as the ‘keeper continued to frustrate the forward line.
However, showing trickery and skill, it was Summerville who did then beat the Pilgrims stopper seven minutes after the restart. He cut in from the left, twisted and turned, before superbly curling into the far corner.
With the Whites a goal ahead and seeing plenty of the ball, the whistle sounded to end the first period of extra-time, meaning the teams would quickly switch ends to play out the final 15 minutes.
Again causing problems, Summerville turned provider this time! The winger again burst down the left and cut inside, but laid the ball off to Georginio, to calmly slot home via the post.
Three became four in the final few minutes. Ilia Gruev whipped a dangerous corner into the box and via a deflected, the ball found the back of the net, to add final gloss to the scoreline.
This Emirates FA Cup clash was finally brought to a close after two full matches and then extra-time, and it was Leeds United who progressed to face Chelsea or Aston Villa.
FULL TIME AET: Plymouth Argyle 1-4 Leeds United
