
Wilfried Gnonto struck twice – including one of the goals of this FA Cup season after just 26 seconds – as Leeds hammered Cardiff in a replay to reach the fourth round.
The Italian international – a summer deadline-day signing from FC Zurich – scissor-kicked a stunning volley in off the crossbar from Rodrigo’s precise chipped ball to set the Whites on their way to a fully deserved victory.
Gnonto, 19, also netted the home side’s third, slotting in low to take the game away from Cardiff shortly after Rodrigo had made it 2-0 with a cool finish of his own.
Cardiff, led by interim manager Dean Whitehead following the sacking of Mark Hudson, thought they had reduced the deficit but Curtis Nelson’s header from a corner was ruled out when VAR spotted Andy Rinomhota in an offside position.
Leeds, who had fallen at the third-round hurdle in this competition in every campaign since 2016-17, added two more in the second half through Patrick Bamford. The striker made it three goals in two substitute appearances since he returned from injury.
Leeds gifted Cardiff two consolations as Luke Ayling’s mistake allowed Callum Robinson to head in unchallenged, before a Marc Roca handball – spotted by VAR – enabled the same player to slot in a spot-kick.
Jesse Marsch’s side will travel to fifth-tier Boreham Wood or League One Accrington Stanley in round four on the weekend of 28/29 of January.
Those two sides were due to meet in a third-round replay on Tuesday, but this was postponed because of a frozen pitch, with the rescheduled game now set to take place on Tuesday, 24 January.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Leeds
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Meslier
- 25Kristensen
- 14Llorente
- 39WoberSubstituted forAylingat 57′minutes
- 3Firpo
- 8rock
- 12AdamsSubstituted forAaronsonat 45′minutes
- 42Greenwood
- 11HarrisonSubstituted forSinisterat 79′minutes
- 29GnontoBooked at 40minsSubstituted forGelhardtat 67′minutes
- 19RodrigoSubstituted forBamfordat 45′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ayling
- 7Aaronson
- 9Bamford
- 16Perkins
- 18Gyabi
- 21Struijk
- 22robles
- 23Sinister
- 30Gelhardt
Cardiff
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 21Alnwick
- 12SangBooked at 39mins
- 16Nelson
- 26simpsons
- 3Bagan
- 19Sawyers
- 29M HarrisSubstituted forKipreat 45′minutes
- 35RinomhotaSubstituted forRobinsonat 64′minutes
- 10OjoSubstituted forWhyteat 88′minutes
- 27ColwillSubstituted forWintleat 45′minutes
- 9EteteSubstituted forDaviesat 64′minutes
Substitutes
- 1allsop
- 6Wintle
- 11O’Dowda
- 20Whyte
- 23Kipre
- 25Philogene
- 38ng
- 39Davies
- 47Robinson
Live Text
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Match ends, Leeds United 5, Cardiff City 2.
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Second Half ends, Leeds United 5, Cardiff City 2.
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Offside, Cardiff City. Jack Simpson tries a through ball, but Isaak Davies is caught offside.
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Goal! Leeds United 5, Cardiff City 2. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the center of the goal.
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VAR Decision: Penalty Cardiff City.
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Penalty conceded by Marc Roca (Leeds United) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
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Substitution, Cardiff City. Gavin Whyte replaces Sheyi Ojo.
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Attempt blocked. Marc Roca (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Goal! Leeds United 5, Cardiff City 1. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) header from very close range to the center of the goal.
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Foul by Patrick Bamford (Leeds United).
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Cédric Kipré (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Sam Greenwood (Leeds United).
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Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Leeds United. Luis Sinisterra replaces Jack Harrison.
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Junior Firpo (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
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Goal! Leeds United 5, Cardiff City 0. Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joe Gelhardt.
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Foul by Jack Harrison (Leeds United).
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Tom Sang (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Attempt missed. Jack Harrison (Leeds United) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Rasmus Kristensen with a cross.