A CHAOTIC last ten minutes at the Cardiff City stadium saw a player sent off and a missed penalty before Sonny Perkins snacthed a dramtic last-minute equaliser.
With Leeds trailling 2-1 Junior Firpo’s strike was blocked on the line by the hand of Joe Bagan, who was promptly sent off.
But Rodrigo missed the resulting spot-kick and Leeds appeared to be heading out of the FA Cup.
But Perkins produced a close range finish to set up a replay and Jesse Marsch will be thanking his lucky stars.
The Whites manager looked as though he was on borrowed time when Rodrigo’s limp penalty was heroically saved by Jak Alnwick on 80 minutes to leave them trailing 2-1.
Afterall the under-fire Leeds boss has only just two wins in his last 15 and to make matters worse Cardiff were without a victory in seven.
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The Bluebirds hadn’t even scored a goal since December 17 until Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojo’s first-half strikes.
But the comeback was on for Leeds when Rodrigo pulled one back after the break before his missed penalty.
And Perkins was there to pick up the pieces with the precious leveller on 93 minutes.
The visitors were victims of their wasteful finishing in the early stages.
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Darko Boateng Gyabi wreaked havoc for the hosts but curled a warning shot just wide.
He then shimmied between Jack Simpsona and Tom Sang but again cracked another effort inches from the post.
Crysencio Summerville took the baton and blazed over the bar in front of virtually an open goal after pouncing on a kamikaze clearance from Tom Sang.
Jesse Marsch fumed over a penalty shout on Degnand Gnoto who was actually booked for diving
Leeds were even more shambolic at the back – and Mark Hudson’s side made the pay.
Pascal Struijk dilly dallied with the ball, gifting a blistering run on goal for Mark Harris.
His initial effort was saved by Joel Robles but only as far as Isaak Davies before it bobbled to Jaden Philogene to lash in from close-range on 24 minutes.
The visitors had been making all the racket up till then, but it was the home fans’ turn for a knees up.
They snarled and cupped their ears at the away end where you could hear a pin drop.
It was only a matter of time before they were serenaded to a rendition of “Leeds are falling apart again”.
But they didn’t just fall apart in the first-half, they were blown into smithereens.
Cardiff smelt blood and began another ferocious onslaught at Leeds’ goal as the visitors shirked their duties at the back once again.
A mouth-watering Andy Rinomhota chip floated into the box, off Diego Llorente’s head and smack bang into the path of Ojo to rifle in on 31 minutes.
Leeds had a rocket up their jacksies after the break after a suspected tongue-lashing from boss Jesse Marsch.
He brought on Rodrigo Moreno on 59 minutes who made an instant impact.
The Spanish striker pulled one back as he met Sam Greenwood’s inch-perfect cross from a well worked corner routine to find the net just six-minutes after coming onto the pitch.
Was the comeback on?
Too right it was, as Leeds cramped Cardiff into their own half Junior Firpo unleashed a rasping shot at goal which Joel Bagan saved virtually on the line with his HAND.
The English youngster left referee Jarred Gillett with no choice but to send him packing and point to the penalty spot.
Rodrigo stepped up but jaws hit the deck when his tame effort was expertly saved by ice-cool Jak Alnwick on 79 minutes.
The Cardiff shot-stopper put his finger to his lips to silence the 6,000 travelling fans who had been giving him hell behind the goal throughout the second half.
The nightmare continued for Leeds with Mateo Joseph hoofing over an inch-perfect Rodrigo cross into the gods.
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But Perkins saved the day in the dying seconds by poking home Junior Firpo’s neat flick on after a scramble in the box.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
