Leeds 2 Everton 1: ONE OF the favourites to lift the League Cup bit the dust as in-form Everton were shocked by Championship side Leeds at Elland Road last night.
A flying start to their Premier League season had seen David Moyes’ third-placed side installed as one of the frontrunners to lift this trophy, but Aidy White’s fourth-minute goal and Rodolph Austin’s effort with 20 minutes left saw Leeds through, despite a nervy ending prompted by Sylvain Distin’s header.
Austin was at the centre of Leeds’ victory, with the midfielder coming out on top of his battle with Marouane Fellaini. The Belgium was one of just five Everton players to retain his shirt from Saturday’s 3-0 win at Swansea. While Moyes may have tinkered with his side he ensured he had the experience of Distin, Fellaini, Johnny Heitinga and Steven Naismith on from the off, but three of that quartet were red-faced as White got Leeds off to the perfect start.
Sloppy passing from Naismith and Coleman sold debutant Francisco Junior short and, after he had been mugged by Austin, the ball found its way to White who skipped past Fellaini, took aim from just inside the area and left Jan Mucha grabbing the air with his first goal for United.
It took Everton until 28 minutes for them to get a sight of goal, and when it came Victor Anichebe hit a rising ball over. Everton were fortunate not to be 2-0 down when referee Lee Mason brought the half to an end. First Luciano Becchio and El-Hadji Diouf combined to play in White, whose shot was well pouched by Mucha. Then, in injury time, Becchio wasted a golden chance when he headed a Diouf cross at the only place in the goal where Mucha could have stopped it, with Naismith clearing up the loose ball on the line.
Moyes beckoned Phil Neville and Steven Pienaar from the bench at the break and the latter powered a good chance over the bar nine minutes later. Leeds were not without chances either as Michael Tonge saw his curling effort drift away from Mucha’s far post.
Neither of those chances were as good as the one presented to Naismith on the hour, though, with the forward heading Anichebe’s cross wide when unopposed at the back post.
Anichebe then whistled a low drive just away from goal and soon after Nikica Jelavic was sent on as Everton’s last throw of the dice, but a Leeds spell of pressure followed and unlike Everton they topped it with a goal. Austin’s weaving run was halted by Coleman on the byline and from the free-kick, Diouf pulled back for Danny Pugh, whose goalbound effort was turned in by Austin.
Everton scrambled a reply when Distin headed in with 10 minutes left, and thought they had a shot for a penalty when Pearce and Anichebe tussled, but United held on.
LEEDS: Ashdown, Byram, Lees, Pearce, White,Austin, Tonge, Brown, Pugh, Diouf, Becchio. Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Drury, Kisnorbo, Varney, Gray, Thompson, Poleon. Booked: Brown, Pearce, White.
EVERTON: Mucha, Coleman, Heitinga, Distin, Oviedo, Naismith (Jelavic 65), Fellaini, Junior (Neville 46), Gueye (Pienaar 46), Mirallas, Anichebe. Subs Not Used: Howard, Jagielka, Vellios, Duffy. Booked: Oviedo, Heitinga, Fellaini.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire).
