FA Cup

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.

Sonny Perkins scored a dramatic late equaliser for LeedsCredit: Getty
Jaden Philogene celebrates opening the scoring against LeedsCredit: PA
Sheyi Ojo doubled Cardiff’s lead with a brilliant half volleyCredit: Getty
Rodrigo’s header gave his side a glimmer of hopeCredit: Reuters
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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DERBY COUNTY secured their place in the FA Cup fourth-round draw in style.The Rams beat Barnsley 3-0 at Pride Park to continue their fine form under Paul Warne.
Tom Barkhuizen helped power Derby into round four of the FA CupCredit: Reuters
Antoine Semenyo equalised for Bristol City to force a replay against SwanseaCredit: Getty
James Collins dispatched a penalty in first-half injury time.
Tom Barkhuizen sealed the victory with an emphatic powerful finish before Jason Knight’s rebound wrapped it up.
Derby will be joined by both Swansea and Bristol City in the hat for the draw after their stalemate at Ashton Gate.
Robins defender Rob Atkinson gifted the Welsh side an early opener, with his horror back pass allowing Liam Cullen to set up Joel Piroe for a tap-in.
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Nigel Pearson’s men battled back, though.
And Antoine Semenyo headed in from a teasing cross meaning they will do it all over again in South Wales.
FA CUP THIRD-ROUND RESULTS
Bristol City 1-1 Swansea CityDerby County 3-0 Barnsley
Previous results:Manchester United 3-1 EvertonCrystal Palace 1-2 SouthamptonForest Green Rovers P-P Birmingham CityGillingham 0-1 Leicester CityPreston North End 3-1 Huddersfield TownReading 2-0 WatfordTottenham Hotspur 1-0 Portsmouth
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Blackpool 4-1 Nottingham ForestBoreham Wood 1-1 Accrington StanleyBournemouth 2-4 BurnleyChesterfield 3-3 West Bromwich AlbionFleetwood Town 2-1 Queens Park RangersHull City 0-2 FulhamIpswich Town 4-1 Rotherham UnitedMiddlesbrough 1-5 Brighton & Hove AlbionMillwall 0-2 Sheffield UnitedShrewsbury Town 1-2 SunderlandBrentford 0-1 West HamCoventry 3-4 WrexhamGrimsby 1-0 BurtonLuton 1-1 WiganSheffield Wednesday 2-1 NewcastleLiverpool 2-2 Wolves More

SWANSEA CITY striker Joel Piroe was gifted a goal after some calametous defending from Bristol City.The Championship sides met in the FA Cup third round today and with the game still goalless in the 15th minute.

Bristol City’ Robert Atkinson passed the ball straight to Liam CullenCredit: BBC Sport
Atkinson and goalkeeper Max O’Leary tried to rush CullenCredit: BBC Sport
But the Swansea man passed to Joel Piroe who tapped homeCredit: BBC Sport
That was until a poor backpass from Bristol City defender Robert Atkinson went astray and straight to Swansea’s Liam Cullen.
The forward showed no signed of panic as he controlled the ball and looked up to see Piroe in space in the centre of the box.
As Atkinson and goalkeeper Max O’Leary rushed to close down Cullen he was able to square the ball to the striker.
And Piroe made no mistake with the finish as he scored what will be one of the easiest goals of his career.
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It was not the first howler of the FA Cup weekend as Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita was caught out by Adam Armstrong.
The gola proved costly as Armstrong’s goal proved to be the winner for Southampton.
Liverpool’s Alisson was also at fault last night as he passed the balle straight to Wolves striker Goncalo Guedes, with the Portuguese international almost not believing his luck.
Regardless he made no mistake, controlling the ball before smacking it into the back of the net.
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Liverpool managed to fight back and the game finished 2-2 menaing there will be a replay between the sides.
Manchester United’s David De Gea was also found wanting against Everton on Friday night.
The usually reliable Spaniard failed to deal with a low cross at from Neal Maupay, seeing the ball cannon off both feet before it squirmed through his legs to allow Conor Coady to tap in.
However luckily for De Gea, the mistake did not cost the Red Devils as they went on to win the game and advance to the next round. More

IT would be all too easy to say they should make a Hollywood movie about this epic football match — given Wrexham’s A-lister owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.But you would need an entire series to cram in all the excitement, emotion, thrills, spills and sheer drama of this thriller.
Wrexham triumphed in a bonkers cup tie at CoventryCredit: Rex
The National League side dramatically booked their place in round fourCredit: Getty
Seven goals, one red card, a booking for Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson, great goals, penalty drama all in 90 minutes — what a script!
And what a pity the entire UK could not watch this drama unfold as only Welsh station S4C had the good sense to see that this tie was laced with the romance of the Cup.
Incredibly, over in Hollywood, Wrexham’s famous backers appeared to have missed some of the action as McElhenney tweeted: “The feed at ESPN+ went down!!! What’s happening???? @Wrexham_AFC.”
Fortunately for McElhenney and Reynolds Wrexham now have a fourth-round tie to look forward to — which is bound to be screened.
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On this evidence the sequel will likely be another blockbuster!
Three divisions and one national border separated these famous FA Cup contestants.
National League Wrexham had not lost in 17 matches and arrived at the CBS Arena brimming with confidence — even Coventry boss Mark Robins warned his Championship side: “Wrexham are by far the best side outside the top four divisions.”
Within 20 minutes, the visitors had confirmed it.
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Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have both fallen in love with WrexhamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Dragons were simply too hot for the Sky Blues to handle as they played with the swagger of a side who  are going places.
Parkinson’s heroes seized the lead after 12 minutes.
Midfielder Luke Young strode forward before sweeping in a delicious cross from the right and Sam Dalby soared above Jonathan Panzo and Michael Rose to power his header beyond Simon Moore.
The 4,500 travelling Wrexham fans went wild and a couple of red flares sent out a plume of crimson smoke — which was pretty much the same shade as Coventry defenders’ faces.
Stung by the early setback, Sky Blues skipper Liam Kelly surged forward menacingly and was cynically chopped down from behind by scorer Dalby, who happily accepted his yellow card.
However, it almost proved a costly foul when Kasey Palmer fired in a 25-yard piledriver from the free-kick which beat Mark Howard but bounced off the post.
That let-off appeared to focus Wrexham minds and they promptly doubled their lead in their next attack with a freakish goal.

Elliot Lee, son of former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee, collected the ball on the left and swept in a curling inswinger towards Paul Mullin.
It may not have found its intended target — instead it found the net, as Moore watched in horror as the ball flew into the far corner of his net.
Wrexham were in dreamland but this incredible script still had plenty of plot twists to come.
Robins had left his top scorer Viktor Gyokeres on the bench but when Fabio Tavares went down injured he sent for the Swedish forward.
Coventry’s confidence surged and within a minute of their talisman’s arrival they had pulled a goal back.
Palmer’s cross found Martyn Waghorn, who knocked it into Ben Sheaf’s path and the midfielder drilled a fierce low shot beyond Howard from 12 yards.
 Wrexham simply gritted their teeth and stunned Coventry with a third goal — six minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Robins had been fearing Ben Tozer’s “ballistic missile” and the Wrexham throw-in expert showed why.
His booming throw into the heart of the penalty area sparked a spot of head tennis as skipper Young headed to Dalby, who headed to Thomas O’Connor, who headed past Moore to spark more bedlam.
If anything, the second half was even more bonkers.
Another Tozer long throw 12 minutes after the restart landed at Max Cleworth, whose shot smacked the outstretched arm of Panzo.
It was a clear penalty and also earned Panzo a red card.
Paul Mullin sent Moore the wrong way to score from the spot to make it 4-1. Wrexham fans were giving it the old “Oles” as some home supporters headed for the exits.
Those who did blundered badly because Coventry suddenly rallied.
Palmer squared for Gyokeres to slam home his customary goal to make it 4-2 after 69 minutes.
And seven minutes later Palmer swept a stunning free-kick over the Wrexham wall to make it 4-3.
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Wrexham were hanging on for their lives and Parkinson was booked for dissent.
Amazingly, Robins’ battlers almost snatched a draw six minutes into stoppage time but Palmer fired over from seven yards as the Dragons held out for a win. That’s a wrap!
Wrexham sent their fans into dreamlandCredit: Rex
The non-league side will hope for a glamour tie in round fourCredit: Rex More