Leeds United continued the trend for fourth round
upsets in the FA Cup after holding on to beat
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at Elland Road.
Ross McCormack's goal five minutes into the second
half sent Leeds into the last 16 and ensured Spurs
befell the same fate as Norwich City and Queens Park
Rangers, who were knocked out on Saturday.
Luke Varney had given the Whites a first-half lead and,
though Clint Dempsey pulled a goal back, Spurs were
unable to find an equaliser as some brilliant last-ditch
defending denied Jonathan Obika in the last minute.
Leeds were in front through the game's first real
chance on 15 minutes as Michael Brown's pass sent
Varney clear of the Spurs defence and he kept his
composure to finish past the recalled Brad Friedel.
Spurs' response saw Gylfi Sigurdsson head over and
Dempsey flicked a shot straight at Jamie Ashdown,
while in between, Varney fired over for Leeds.
More slack defending from Spurs presented the hosts
with another opportunity just before half-time, but
Friedel was out smartly to deny McCormack.
However, there was nothing the veteran keeper could
do five minutes after the interval when McCormack
raced on to El Hadji Diouf's through ball before
arrowing a left-footed shot past Friedel after cutting
inside Steven Caulker.
The Premier League side were much more purposeful in
their response to conceding the second goal as former
Leeds winger Aaron Lennon's dangerous cross was
turned wide by Dempsey.
Dempsey was more clinical on 58 minutes, though,
darting to the near post to glance Gareth Bale's left-
wing delivery beyond the reach of Ashdown.
Andre Villas-Boas promptly introduced Obika and
Mousa Dembele, who saw a shot from outside the box
deflected wide on 71 minutes.
But, just 60 seconds later, Spurs could have fallen
further behind after McCormack scampered clear of the
defence again, only to see his shot strike Friedel's leg.
Spurs had one last chance to force a replay after Benoit
Assou-Ekotto's raking long pass sent Obika clear, but
the substitute took too long to bring the ball under
control and Lee Peltier produced a superb block to
ensure Leeds' progression.
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