Leeds catch Norwich cold with big win and bumper atmosphere at Elland Road to make playoff final

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Leeds catch Norwich cold with a big win and in front of a bumper atmosphere at Elland Road to make the Championship playoff final.


In the first leg, the two sides played out a goalless draw, with neither side producing many chances at Carrow Road last Sunday.


Norwich’s Gabriel Sara and Leeds’ Sam Byram failed to make the most from the two best chances in a game of few scoring opportunities.


So all eyes were on Thursday night, and Leeds wasted no time in getting in front, just 7 minutes on the clock, Leeds were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out. Ilia Gruev spotted Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn well to the right of his goal and fired a clever low strike to the near post that caught the stopper off guard and put the hosts ahead.


On 13 minutes, Leeds were then nearly caught cold, a quick free-kick found Dimitris Giannoulis down the left but his cross went behind for a corner by Archie Gray. Leeds managed to clear the corner.


Leeds doubled their lead on the 20th minute, again Norwich keeper Angus Gunn was exposed with Wilfried Gnonto sending in a cross that brought Gunn off his line, he couldn’t get there, and Joel Piroe nodded the ball home.






It was 3-0 on 40 minutes, Leeds not taking their foot of the gas, as Joel Piroe did the hard work with a making his way down the left, Crysencio Summerville bundled it on to Georginio Rutter and he powerfully hit it into the roof of the net via the crossbar.




David Fox (Former Norwich City midfielder on BBC Radio Norfolk): “Leeds seem to have an extra man. It is like a training exercise. They seem to be able to get through at will. Norwich needed to get in at half-time at 2-0.”


Aidy White (Former Leeds United full-back on BBC Radio Leeds): “The way Leeds have started, it’s like they’ve conserved all their energy for this 45 minutes. Atmospheres like this can either kill you or you can harness it. Leeds have harnessed it. This performance has been absolutely phenomenal.”


Chris Goreham (BBC Radio Norfolk commentator): “Leeds are almost out of sight before half-time. Joel Piroe got away so easily. Georginio Rutter finishes with glee. There are Norwich players on their knees, they have been absolutely pulled apart.”


Andy Hinchcliffe on Sky Sports Football: “Every time Leeds go forward they are slicing Norwich open. No chance for Gunn, there. The intensity, the quality. It has been impossible for Norwich to match.


Ian Woodcock (BBC Sport at Elland Road): “Just heard the first few Wembley chants of the evening. Almost everything that could go right for Leeds has gone right, as the half ends with every Leeds pass getting an “ole” from the jubilant home support. They’re 45 minutes from the play-off final and, right now, it looks like they will be going there in style. As for Norwich, this looks like it is just one game too many at the end of a long old season. If they can get a goal back at the start of the second half then maybe they could make a game of this… But right now it feels far likelier than Leeds will add (several) more to their lead.”


Chris Goreham (BBC Radio Norfolk commentator): “Norwich have been absolutely blown away by a Leeds team who have been rampant. They have not dealt with the occasion, not risen to it. At Carrow Road, it was really even between these two sides. Leeds have stepped up. Norwich have been absolutely blown away.”


The goals continued in the second half, Crysencio Summerville leading the charge, dropped the ball off to Willy Gnonto, and his effort ended up being palmed away on the line by Angus Gunn, however Junior Firpo was there to cut the ball back for Summerville who slotted home to make it 4-0 on 68 minutes.






Chris Goreham (BBC Radio Norfolk commentator): “What a dismal end to the season for Norwich. Normally, after a defeat, the manager will come out and say “well, we’ve got another game on Tuesday”. They have got two-and-a-half months to stew on it. There will be a lot of harsh words. Where do the Canaries go from here?”


David Fox (Former Norwich City midfielder on BBC Radio Norfolk): “It is a tough one to take.You know what it is like coming to Elland Road, you know how hostile it can be. Norwich just could not live with them. The gulf in class was massive. I didn’t see this type of performance coming. It became men against boys. A team that had that togetherness against a team that had a little bit of being a rabbit in headlights. Maybe it was too much for some of the players. They were a long way off what was in front of them.”


Aidy White (Former Leeds United full-back on BBC Radio Leeds): “I think every single fan has stayed here, waving their scarves. Leeds were unbelievable all over the pitch. Credit to the fans, credit to the players, credit to the manager. They have got it spot on and I think it’s the best performance at Elland Road I’ve seen, definitely this season, and in a long time. Those big players really stepped up. All around a tremendous effort from the team. Big shout out to Joe Rodon – he set the tempo of the game.”



Cedric Anselin (Former Norwich midfielder on BBC Radio Norfolk): “Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn made some good saves. I think 4-0 may end up looking good for Norwich, Leeds could have scored more. There is a lot that is going to happen in the summer – hopefully in a positive way – a lot of players are out of contract.”




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.”


Leeds United forward Georginio Rutter speaking to Sky Sports: “It’s incredible. Today we go to Wembley.


“We played a good game. I’m happy, everybody is happy. One more game and we will see.


“We played very good. 4-0 is a clean sheet. Today, we were mature. It’s a very good performance from the team.


“I want to try my best and help the team. If we play like this [at the final], we have a good chance but we have to play like this.”


Norwich City boss David Wagner speaking to Sky Sports: “It was a poor performance from us.


“I think – more or less – that tonight, everything you should not do, we have done.


“We were second best in the duels and it’s a very disappointing evening and end to the season.


“We knew we had to try and stay in the game but we did the opposite of that, conceding three goals in the first half.”


“It’s very quiet in the dressing room at the moment.


“I haven’t really spoken about the game, because at the moment the disappointment is too big.


“It was a very exhausting season. It wasn’t a normal season and now it’s over quite quickly.


“It’s important to reflect now. Unfortunately, the fairytale does not have a happy ending.”



This is what fans are saying as Leeds catch Norwich cold with a big win at a bumper Elland Road atmosphere to make playoff final…


@leegrecruiter: Where has this team been for the last few weeks. Stunning attacking football. Absolutely destroying the canaries #mot


@d7d147a8b2ed472: It isn’t supposed to be this easy, its Leeds United we’re supposed to leave it till 90mins and be 1 up with 30 mins added time, right?


@CharlieBurley_: Best we’ve played in months. Firing in all cylinders across the pitch. Georgi suddenly looks bang on it again. The body language across the board just looks so much better. More of the same please boys 💛💙💛💙💛💙


@Yorkie_Peacock: Best half of football we’ve had in ages


@Matt40443057: What a time to return to form 💪🏻


@Matty_harry_son: Unreal first half. Wasn’t expecting that, back to how we’ve been playing #lufc


@AllLeedsTV: What a first half of football, Gruev Bossing that mid, Piroe a man on fire off the ball runs, with the ball just amazing, archie gray just taking the mick down the right.. Willy what a ball for piroes goal… one of the best crosses I’ve seen #lufc #playoffs


@Jake_Harris15: Best half of football this season. Not giving them a second on the ball, moving the ball nice and fast, not constantly passing the ball backwards and sideways, fast getting forward, clinical….. where has this been over the past month #lufc


@Daz_Binks1: That was an insane first half. We have been saying all season someone will get a battering, looks like finally this is the game #lufc


@DanielGreensitt: This is beautiful to watch #lufc


@BegzLufc: Rutter, Piroe and gray on smoke. Everyone 100 percent on it tonight. Best half of the season. This is the Leeds we’ve known for most of the season!! #lufc #mot


@tom_whatever: What a half! Let’s keep our foot down! Show Southampton & West Brom what they have to look forward to! 🔥 #LUFC


@LufcApl: Some top, top performances that half. Piroe the pick of the bunch. CBs have no idea what to do with him. #lufc


@EastStandUpper: Blimey… when was the last time we played like that in a one-game shoot out? Fucking awesome performance. Everyone has been on it, but Gruev and Gray have been utterly sensational. And lovely to have Georginio back. #lufc



@JField97: Thank god it’s over 🤣 As poor as we have been & as poor as Wagner’s tactics are, you’ve absolutely blown us away. Hope you & Farke win at Wembley & smash it back where you belong, in the prem. Leeds were class on & off the pitch tonight. Big summer rebuild for us #LUFC #NCFC


@CallumBatson: Honestly, well done lads. You deserved the Prem before the play-offs and after that showing, I really do hope you get promoted at Wembley. I am truly embarrassed to be a Norwich fan right now, but I hope our humbling today gives us something to work on next season.


@Tomi_Oladipo: I love how calm the players all were tonight. Back to the winning mentality. They created chances. They didn’t dwell too much on mistakes, and picked themselves back up each time. The crowd was immense too. MOT


@jalager: Absolute steamroller of a performance. Back to our best at the very crucial moment. Beautiful, beautiful team. On to Wembley! 💛💙


@Chr15PG: What a win! What a performance! Blew Norwich away! Absolute unreal tonight! So glad cooper got a send off like he did too! Got a lot of stick over the years but as a man and a captain he’s been brilliant. Well deserved final swansong for him! Now… WEMBLEY!! Come on!! #LUFC


@DaveCockerLeeds: Been watching #lufc since 1960, that was the easiest big game I have watched since we beat Birmingham City 3-0 in the 1972 FA Cup Semi Final, just totally relaxed watching it, doesn’t often happen 👌


@Charliebop33: I’m not gonna have a voice tommorow. The support tonight was absolutely unreal. I’ve never heard noise like it, that’s gonna stay with me forever. Onwards to Wembley 💙💛🤍 #LUFC #ALAW #ACAW #LEEDS #leedsunited #playoffs


@MissVJFxx: No club in England can compare to the atmosphere of Elland Road. Don’t care what argument you come at me with. Love my club x #LUFC


@Ash__1992__: Massive credit to Meslier tonight I’m not his biggest fan but tonight when it mattered he made a crucial save. The only save he had to make tonight and he did it. I know we won 4-0 and battered them but that save won us the game. #LUFC



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