Leeds dump out Everton

Thursday 30 July 2020 10:16, UK

Leeds dumped Everton out of the Capital One Cup at Elland Road as goals from Aidan White and Rodolph Austin secured a deserved 2-1 victory.

Premier League side suffer shock defeat at Elland Road

Leeds dumped Everton out of the Capital One Cup at Elland Road as goals from Aidy White and Rodolph Austin secured a deserved 2-1 victory in their third round clash.

Everton were complicit in their own downfall, as they attempted to play the ball out of defence early on, only for Austin to seize possession just inside their half before White burst forward, weaving his way into space before curling the ball beyond Jan Mucha for his first-ever goal for the club.

A clearly unimpressed David Moyes, who had named a much-changed side which did not include any Englishmen, sent on Phil Neville and Steven Pienaar at the interval, only to see his side fall further behind in the 70th minute due to more poor defending.

El Hadji Diouf picked out the unmarked Danny Pugh on the edge of the area following a free-kick out on the left near the goal-line, with his shot into a crowded six-yard box diverted inside the post and beyond Mucha by Austin's deft touch.

Sylvain Distin climbed above bandaged Leeds centre-back Jason Pearce after Victor Anichebe's flick on with nine minutes remaining, but the visitors could not find an equaliser, although they had a strong late shout for a penalty after Pearce climbed all over Anichebe in the box.

The performance of Austin - a Jamaica international who has spent most of his career in Norway - was at the centre of Leeds' victory, with the midfielder coming out on top of his battle with another man mountain, Marouane Fellaini.

The Belgium international was one of just five Everton players to retain his shirt from Saturday's 3-0 win at Swansea in what was a first meeting between these two sides since April 2004, when the goals in a 1-1 draw were scored by James Milner and Wayne Rooney.

Chances

Everton have remained a stable top-flight force since then while Leeds have dodged from one false dawn to another in their bid to return to it. The Bahraini businessmen watching who are in talks with the club over investment may well fancy their chances of making that happen.

For Everton, though, despite their strong league start, their best chance of a trophy this season has now passed them by, with Moyes unable to summon enough from a well-stocked bench to put Leeds off their stride.

While the Scot may have tinkered with his side he was careful to ensure he had the experience of Distin, Fellaini, John Heitinga and Steven Naismith on from the off, but three of that quartet were left red-faced early on 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 a token challenge from Fellaini. With cover nowhere to be seen he took aim from just inside the area and left Mucha grabbing the air with his first goal for United.

Everton's response was muted and it took until 28 minutes for them to get a genuine sight of goal, and when it came Anichebe hit a rising ball over after Bryan Oviedo had gone down the right and played him in.

That was Everton's last contribution of the half and they were fortunate not to be 2-0 down when referee Lee Mason brought it to an end.

First Luciano Becchio and Diouf combined to play in White, whose low shot was well pouched by Mucha on a wet pitch. 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.

Beckoned

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, picking up Jason Pearce's clearance but failing to hit the target.

Everton had clearly upped the ante but Leeds were not without chances either as Michael Tonge slipped into the box and 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, two yards out 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 subsequent free-kick, Diouf pulled back for Pugh, whose goal-bound effort was turned in by Austin.

Everton managed to scramble a reply when Distin headed in with 10 minutes left after some slack marking from Leeds, and thought they had a shot for a penalty when Pearce and Anichebe tussled, but United held on.