Post by Taxigirl on Jan 18, 2006 9:33:37 GMT
www.leedsunited.com/
David Healy, 41, 64 (pen)
Gary Kelly, 116
Andreas Johansson, 24
Jason Roberts, 50, 103
Venue
Elland Road
Kick-Off Time
17 January 2006 7:45pm
Attendance
15,243
Pre-Match
Kevin Blackwell said Leeds were taking the FA Cup seriously, and he showed he wasn't joking with his team selection.
The only possible area you could point a finger at him having weakened the side was in midfield where the experienced Shaun Derry sat out the game to give Simon Walton a rare start.
Upfront David Healy and Rob Hulse came in for Robbie Blake and Richard Cresswell, and that too was hardly what you would call making a sacrifice.
Wigan, who fielded a semi-reserve side in the meeting at the JJB, recalled a number of their big guns for the tie, possibly a further indication of Paul Jewell's anger at having his request for the tie to be put back 24 hours refused.
In came Pascal Chimbonda, skipper Arjan De Zeeuw, Graham Kavanagh, Leighton Baines and Gary Teal, who along with Jason Roberts had only been a sub at the JJB.
The Match
Wigan set about putting Leeds under considerably more pressure than they had done in the meeting ten days previous, and thanks to some frantic defending Leeds survived the early onslaught.
Leeds fashioned a great early chance for themselves after just four minutes. Liam Miller made a great break, Hulse collected it off him and then played it outside to Healy, who with only the keeper to beat, strangely went wide with the ball and once around the keeper could only find the side netting with his shot.
United survived a huge let-off on the quarter hour when Healy put a mis-placed pass straight to Gary Teale and the winger had the beating of everyone but not the crossbar as he let fly with a shot from the edge of the area. It was a big, big warning for Leeds who definitely found themselves up against a much stronger, more determined Wigan side this time.
Seven minutes later though and the visitors did take the lead with a long ball and power proving effective. Roberts flicked the ball on into the path of Andreas Johansson right on the edge of the penalty box and the Swedish international held off the challenge of Kilgallon and Crainey to make a few yards and get his shot away - only for it to come back off the post but still fall nicely for him to tap in the rebound.
Still visibly shaken Leeds let Wigan in again down the right hand flank but Teale placed his shot well wide with his right foot.
Just before the half hour Rob Hulse managed to turn away from the close marking of De Zeeuw right on the edge of the Wigan area, but the shot that should have been the equaliser went agonisingly high and then Healy drove a similar chance well wide.
Leeds piled on the pressure in a good spell some seven minutes before half-time that saw them win three corners in succession - and eventually it paid off with a goal.
Kelly swung in the corner to penalty spot where Hulse was waiting to meet it with a powerful header at goal, but Baines managed to block it on the line with his body and at first glance the chance was gone, but Healy managed to just sneak ahead of Johansson at the back post for the loose ball and hooked it into the net.
Then deep into first half injury time Miller could have given the Whites the lead with a fierce drive from the left of the area, but there were just too many bodies in his path as the ball eventually came off a Wigan defender for a corner.
It was game on again with Healy having set up what promised to be a great second half.
Leeds had been on top at the start of the second half but five minutes in and Jason Roberts produced a goal of some class to put Wigan ahead again.
He brought down a high cross with his back to goal two yards outside the box, two Leeds defenders stood off him, and he simply turned on the spot and hit a right foot volley into the bottom left hand corner past Sullivan's despairing dive.
The Leeds players could hardly believe how easy he had made the goal look, and they were left needing to conjure up another equaliser.
Five minutes after the Wigan goal United came within a whisker of being back on level terms again. Chimbonda was slow to clear at the back and Eddie Lewis stole it off him and hit it first time, smashing his shot against the crossbar. It was desperately unlucky for the American who was having another good game.
The game was starting to follow a similar pattern to the first half, Wigan scored then Leeds took over in terms of possession.
And just like in the first half, Wigan eventually yielded under the pressure except this time the goal came from the penalty spot.
Kelly delivered his second corner into a crowded penalty area and referee Graham Poll was quick to spot Leeds-born Matt Jackson's hand go up and handle it just ahead of Hulse trying to get a header in.
A huge roar went up when Poll pointed to the spot and Healy had no hesitation in stepping up to take it. He only just beat the keeper though, the ball passing under Filan's body but it didn't matter because United had their equaliser.
Liam Miller was the next to be denied by the woodwork with 15 minutes remaining, and if Lewis's earlier effort was good, this was outstanding.
After the ball had been cleared straight to him, his 30-yard left footed shot hit the apex of the post and crossbar, bounced down and refused to go over the line. It would have been one of the goals of the season had it gone in.
Still there was danger at the other end as Roberts nearly won the game with a volley that Sullivan produced a good save to keep out. He had to be equally alert to get two firm hands on a Chimbonda header with six minutes of time remaining.
Miller was brought down in a heavy challenge that effectively saw the end of his evening, although he wasn't badly injured. Blackwell was taking no risks though and replaced him with Gylfi Einarsson. A minute later Eddie Lewis also came off and Richard Cresswell went on.
Leeds were forced to defend a few corners but they held out and the game went into extra time where both sides would have to muster all the energy they could to give them a chance of going through.
Cresswell's first chance came a minute into extra time, the ball was knocked forward for the striker to chase with only the keeper to beat but he just didn't quite have the pace to take him past Skoko who tackled well.
Kilgallon had given a masterclass in defending all game and showed his quality again with a clean tackle on Johansson inside the penalty area that drew warm applause from the 15,000 inside Elland Road.
The first booking of the game came on the 102nd minute and it went to Simon Walton for leaving his foot in on a challenge on Baines.
Shortly afterwards Wigan took the lead again as Roberts helped himself to his second goal. Kavanagh chipped the ball in and Roberts met it well in the air, powering his header past Sullivan. Surely there was no way back for Leeds now?
Blackwell started the game with two strikers but he was to finish it with four as Robbie Blake replaced Simon Walton to join Hulse, Healy and Cresswell.
Healy won a free-kick five yards short of the penalty area and it was set up for Blake to try his luck. The kick looked accurate but the last defender in the wall just managed to get a touch to take it away. The ball was still loose but eventually it was fired over by Hulse.
Blake was given another opportunity four minutes later and this time Kavanagh managed to block it with his face.
Filan was called into action though to turn a looping shot over the bar and Leeds still had hope from the corner.
And with hope came reward as Gary Kelly struck what was undoubtedly the goal of the game - and that was saying something given the quality of Roberts' two strikes.
The corner was cleared out towards the former Irish international some 30-yards from goal but it was teed up nicely for him and he unleashed a volley that swerved from left to right, giving Filan no chance.
There were ecstatic scenes at Elland Road; Sky had certainly picked a real goalmouth to goalmouth cup tie worthy of the competition.
Even then the visitors threatened to break United hearts again. Roberts was just a yard the wrong side of the post with his shot with less than three minutes remaining.
Leeds did hold out and into penalties we went and it would be a case of whose nerves held out the most.
CONT......
David Healy, 41, 64 (pen)
Gary Kelly, 116
Andreas Johansson, 24
Jason Roberts, 50, 103
Venue
Elland Road
Kick-Off Time
17 January 2006 7:45pm
Attendance
15,243
Pre-Match
Kevin Blackwell said Leeds were taking the FA Cup seriously, and he showed he wasn't joking with his team selection.
The only possible area you could point a finger at him having weakened the side was in midfield where the experienced Shaun Derry sat out the game to give Simon Walton a rare start.
Upfront David Healy and Rob Hulse came in for Robbie Blake and Richard Cresswell, and that too was hardly what you would call making a sacrifice.
Wigan, who fielded a semi-reserve side in the meeting at the JJB, recalled a number of their big guns for the tie, possibly a further indication of Paul Jewell's anger at having his request for the tie to be put back 24 hours refused.
In came Pascal Chimbonda, skipper Arjan De Zeeuw, Graham Kavanagh, Leighton Baines and Gary Teal, who along with Jason Roberts had only been a sub at the JJB.
The Match
Wigan set about putting Leeds under considerably more pressure than they had done in the meeting ten days previous, and thanks to some frantic defending Leeds survived the early onslaught.
Leeds fashioned a great early chance for themselves after just four minutes. Liam Miller made a great break, Hulse collected it off him and then played it outside to Healy, who with only the keeper to beat, strangely went wide with the ball and once around the keeper could only find the side netting with his shot.
United survived a huge let-off on the quarter hour when Healy put a mis-placed pass straight to Gary Teale and the winger had the beating of everyone but not the crossbar as he let fly with a shot from the edge of the area. It was a big, big warning for Leeds who definitely found themselves up against a much stronger, more determined Wigan side this time.
Seven minutes later though and the visitors did take the lead with a long ball and power proving effective. Roberts flicked the ball on into the path of Andreas Johansson right on the edge of the penalty box and the Swedish international held off the challenge of Kilgallon and Crainey to make a few yards and get his shot away - only for it to come back off the post but still fall nicely for him to tap in the rebound.
Still visibly shaken Leeds let Wigan in again down the right hand flank but Teale placed his shot well wide with his right foot.
Just before the half hour Rob Hulse managed to turn away from the close marking of De Zeeuw right on the edge of the Wigan area, but the shot that should have been the equaliser went agonisingly high and then Healy drove a similar chance well wide.
Leeds piled on the pressure in a good spell some seven minutes before half-time that saw them win three corners in succession - and eventually it paid off with a goal.
Kelly swung in the corner to penalty spot where Hulse was waiting to meet it with a powerful header at goal, but Baines managed to block it on the line with his body and at first glance the chance was gone, but Healy managed to just sneak ahead of Johansson at the back post for the loose ball and hooked it into the net.
Then deep into first half injury time Miller could have given the Whites the lead with a fierce drive from the left of the area, but there were just too many bodies in his path as the ball eventually came off a Wigan defender for a corner.
It was game on again with Healy having set up what promised to be a great second half.
Leeds had been on top at the start of the second half but five minutes in and Jason Roberts produced a goal of some class to put Wigan ahead again.
He brought down a high cross with his back to goal two yards outside the box, two Leeds defenders stood off him, and he simply turned on the spot and hit a right foot volley into the bottom left hand corner past Sullivan's despairing dive.
The Leeds players could hardly believe how easy he had made the goal look, and they were left needing to conjure up another equaliser.
Five minutes after the Wigan goal United came within a whisker of being back on level terms again. Chimbonda was slow to clear at the back and Eddie Lewis stole it off him and hit it first time, smashing his shot against the crossbar. It was desperately unlucky for the American who was having another good game.
The game was starting to follow a similar pattern to the first half, Wigan scored then Leeds took over in terms of possession.
And just like in the first half, Wigan eventually yielded under the pressure except this time the goal came from the penalty spot.
Kelly delivered his second corner into a crowded penalty area and referee Graham Poll was quick to spot Leeds-born Matt Jackson's hand go up and handle it just ahead of Hulse trying to get a header in.
A huge roar went up when Poll pointed to the spot and Healy had no hesitation in stepping up to take it. He only just beat the keeper though, the ball passing under Filan's body but it didn't matter because United had their equaliser.
Liam Miller was the next to be denied by the woodwork with 15 minutes remaining, and if Lewis's earlier effort was good, this was outstanding.
After the ball had been cleared straight to him, his 30-yard left footed shot hit the apex of the post and crossbar, bounced down and refused to go over the line. It would have been one of the goals of the season had it gone in.
Still there was danger at the other end as Roberts nearly won the game with a volley that Sullivan produced a good save to keep out. He had to be equally alert to get two firm hands on a Chimbonda header with six minutes of time remaining.
Miller was brought down in a heavy challenge that effectively saw the end of his evening, although he wasn't badly injured. Blackwell was taking no risks though and replaced him with Gylfi Einarsson. A minute later Eddie Lewis also came off and Richard Cresswell went on.
Leeds were forced to defend a few corners but they held out and the game went into extra time where both sides would have to muster all the energy they could to give them a chance of going through.
Cresswell's first chance came a minute into extra time, the ball was knocked forward for the striker to chase with only the keeper to beat but he just didn't quite have the pace to take him past Skoko who tackled well.
Kilgallon had given a masterclass in defending all game and showed his quality again with a clean tackle on Johansson inside the penalty area that drew warm applause from the 15,000 inside Elland Road.
The first booking of the game came on the 102nd minute and it went to Simon Walton for leaving his foot in on a challenge on Baines.
Shortly afterwards Wigan took the lead again as Roberts helped himself to his second goal. Kavanagh chipped the ball in and Roberts met it well in the air, powering his header past Sullivan. Surely there was no way back for Leeds now?
Blackwell started the game with two strikers but he was to finish it with four as Robbie Blake replaced Simon Walton to join Hulse, Healy and Cresswell.
Healy won a free-kick five yards short of the penalty area and it was set up for Blake to try his luck. The kick looked accurate but the last defender in the wall just managed to get a touch to take it away. The ball was still loose but eventually it was fired over by Hulse.
Blake was given another opportunity four minutes later and this time Kavanagh managed to block it with his face.
Filan was called into action though to turn a looping shot over the bar and Leeds still had hope from the corner.
And with hope came reward as Gary Kelly struck what was undoubtedly the goal of the game - and that was saying something given the quality of Roberts' two strikes.
The corner was cleared out towards the former Irish international some 30-yards from goal but it was teed up nicely for him and he unleashed a volley that swerved from left to right, giving Filan no chance.
There were ecstatic scenes at Elland Road; Sky had certainly picked a real goalmouth to goalmouth cup tie worthy of the competition.
Even then the visitors threatened to break United hearts again. Roberts was just a yard the wrong side of the post with his shot with less than three minutes remaining.
Leeds did hold out and into penalties we went and it would be a case of whose nerves held out the most.
CONT......