Premiership leaders Leeds United were sensationally dumped out of the third round of the FA Cup today by Second Division club Cardiff City in what has been one of the greatest shocks the Cup has produced in recent times. With the score level at 1-1 and just five minutes remaining, there was a dramatic twist when Scott Young, City's longest serving player, fired past Nigel Martyn to give Cardiff an incredible 2-1 lead.
There was no way back for David O'Leary's side who weren't helped by striker Alan Smith being sent off earlier in the game for the sixth time in his career. The 21-year-old's red card on the stroke of half-time proved to be the turning point in this superb Cup tie after Graham Kavanagh had blasted home a stunning free-kick to cancel out Mark Viduka's 12th goal of the season.
It was a sign of things to come for Leeds when a Cardiff supporter fired a plastic item onto the pitch as Ian Harte was preparing to take a throw-in inside the first minute of the game. Eight minutes later, Rio Ferdinand made an early exit after a challenge by Gavin Gordon and Michael Duberry was forced to take to the field where he would partner Jonathan Woodgate for the first time since giving evidence against the centre-half in the recent trial at Hull Crown Court. Duberry revealed in a television interview just before Christmas that Woodgate had not spoken to him since the initial trial 10 months ago and no doubt O'Leary had some concerns about how the pair would gel at the heart of his defence.
However, such worries were eased on 12 minutes when Leeds took the lead. Viduka captialised on an embarrassing error by Spencer Prior, who passed the ball out of defence straight to the Australian and he fired the ball past Neil Alexander in the goalmouth. But in the 21st minute the Cardiff fans had something to celebrate when Dubliner Graham Kavanagh equalised with a stunning free-kick. The £1m summer signing brilliantly curled home a right-footed shot from 22 yards out for his ninth goal of the season and it couldn't have come at a better time.
The goal lifted the Second Division club and their spirits were lifted further when Smith saw red just before half-time. The English international may feel somewhat unlucky as he appeared to have accidentally hit Legg in the face as the pair clashed. The Cardiff left-back seemed to play up the incident and only saw yellow for his shirt-tugging while referee Andy D'Urso wasted no time in showing him the red card which infuriated O'Leary on the sidelines.
In the second-half, Leeds found themselves with their backs to the wall time and again as Cardiff pushed forward at every opportunity in search of a famous victory. The game was interrupted yet again on 80 minutes when D'Urso was hit on the side of the head by a coin and needed treatment. With 85 minutes on the clock, O'Leary would surely have accepted a 1-1 draw and the chance to bring Cardiff back to Elland Road where they could finish off the job but he did not bank on the Welsh side producing the upset of the third round.
A corner from Kavanagh was headed towards goal by Leo Fortune-West but his effort was cleared by Harte. As David Batty attempted to hack the ball out of defence, Young managed to get a toe to it and poke it home to the amazement and jubilation of the home supporters. However, their glorious achievements were marred by the crowd trouble that ensued after the final whistle although for manager Alan Cork, nothing could spoil the day.
"The result today showed that we can beat the top teams," he said. "We had a game plan and we stuck to it - the plan worked very well and I'm delighted for everyone. We said at half-time `Don't get carried away - you've got to go out and do the same again because Leeds are a great side'. If we dropped down a bit from the level in the first half we knew we'd get beat, even against 10 men. Our lads have their moment now and I'm sure they'll treasure it all their lives," he added.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
