Leeds vs Norwich LIVE: Championship play-off semi-final result and reaction as hosts run rampant
Leeds 4-0 Norwich: The hosts dominated from the off and now have a trip to Wembley to look forward to
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Leeds United are the first team to make it to Wembley after a dominant and brilliant display to defeat Norwich City in their Championship play-off semi-final second leg.
With home advantage, Leeds came out of the traps quickly, forcing Norwich to defend and pressing high up the pitch. They won a free kick just outside the box and Ilia Gruev curled it past Angus Gunn to open the scoring. Joel Piroe, returned to the starting XI for this one, then met a cross from Wilfried Gnonto and powered a header into the back of the net to double the lead.
In what was perhaps the turning point of the match, Ashley Barnes threaed Josh Sargent into space but his one-on-one with Illan Meslier was kept out by the goalkeeper.
Georginio Rutter added a third before the break and Crysencio Summerville put the icing on the cake with a second half tap-in to send the Whites to Wembley.
Relive the action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Ruthless Leeds near to ending play-off curse as Daniel Farke’s reforged side close in on promotion
Perhaps it only took Leeds United 37 years to master the play-offs. The oldest curse in the Football League’s end-of-season exercise in delight and dejection may only have another 10 days left to run. Leeds, beaten in the second tier’s inaugural final in 1987, invariably unsuccessful in such knockout ties ever since, will be marching on together down Wembley Way after a display of blistering brilliance.
Their promotion specialist of a manager, Daniel Farke, subjected his former club Norwich to a harrowing night as Leeds transformed their form and the mood. They lost their way and their automatic play-off place in the last six weeks of the season. And then, suddenly, came a display to support the theory they had it in them to be the best side in the Championship this season. They outwitted Norwich even before they outsprinted and outran them; opposing fans are fond of chanting that Leeds are falling apart. Elland Road reverberated to it, the Leeds supporters launching into a mocking chorus as Norwich collapsed and capitulated, three goals down by half-time, perhaps fortunate to only lose by four.
Ruthless Leeds near to ending play-off curse as they close in on promotion
Leeds 3-0 Norwich: Farke’s new faces starred in a dominant procession at Elland Road that sends the Whites to Wembley.
FT Leeds 4-0 Norwich (4-0 agg)
Leeds defender Ethan Ampadu to Sky Sports:
“Towards the end of the season there was a lot of talk about how we were playing, how we weren’t on the front foot, how we weren’t aggressive or clinical.
“But we always had our belief that on our day, when we are firing, we can be hard for anyone to play against.
“When the front four, five, six play like that, they make the job of us defenders a lot easier.
“Whoever we play in the final it’s going to be a hard game but to go in like this, to put in a performamce like this, we can take momentum and confidence into it.
“The fans were second to none and we enjoyed their support - now we are going to prepare for the big one.”
FT Leeds 4-0 Norwich (4-0 agg)
The singing, chanting and dancing has continued inside the stadium. Leeds were a class above tonight and the fans are having a great time celebrating that.
Full-time! Leeds 4-0 Norwich (4-0 agg)
90+2 mins: The whistle goes and the party begins!
Leeds United are heading to Wembley after a barnstorming performance at Elland Road.
Leeds 4-0 Norwich (4-0 agg)
90 mins: Just the two minutes to play.
Leeds 4-0 Norwich (4-0 agg)
86 mins: Georginio Rutter has been given the Player of the Match award. Leeds had a fair few contenders, Crysencio Summerville was another one as was Joel Piroe.
Leeds 4-0 Norwich (4-0 agg)
83 mins: Double change for Norwich as Ashley Barnes and Jonny Rowe come off. Sydney van Hooijdonk and Jacob Sorensen are the men tasked with playing out the final few minutes.
Leeds 4-0 Norwich (4-0 agg)
80 mins: 10 minutes still to play at Elland Road. Norwich look beaten now as well. They’ll want to get on the bus home and reset ahead of next year.
Can they perhaps earn a consolation goal?
Leeds 4-0 Norwich (4-0 agg)
77 mins: Leeds finished 17 points ahead of Norwich in the league and became the first team to reach 90 points and not win automatic promotion.
They won’t care about that right now as they’ve battered Norwich tonight.
Leeds 4-0 Norwich (4-0 agg)
74 mins: Georginio Rutter, Joel Piroe and Championship player of the year Crysencio Summerville come off to standing ovations as Daniel Farke goes to the bench.
Jaidon Anthony, Mateo Joseph and Connor Roberts replace them.
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