ack Harrison’s stunning long-range strike fired Leeds United on their way to the Emirates FA Cup fifth round for the first time in seven years as they saw off Accrington Stanley 3-1.
The League One side battled hard and were right in it until two second-half goals in three minutes put the tie beyond them.
But Leeds’s class had shown in the first half with Harrison firing home from 25 yards with a searing effort to break the deadlock.
Just after the hour, Leeds put the game to bed, Junior Firpo and then Luis Sinisterra finding the back of the net, although Accrington pulled one back late on through 18-year-old substitute Leslie Adekoya.
In the other early kick-off, Kelechi Iheanacho improved on his remarkable Emirates FA Cup scoring record, bringing his tally to 17 in 23 appearances to edge Leicester City past Walsall 1-0.
It needed a stroke of fortune, the Nigerian’s effort taking a big deflection on its way past Owen Evans with just over 20 minutes of the game remaining.
That proved enough for the Foxes, for whom Youri Tielemans had earlier hit the post from the spot.
There was heartbreak for Sunderland, who thought they had a late winner against Premier League Fulham from 15-year-old substitute Chris Rigg.
His effort was ruled out for offside though, and the teams will have to come back for a replay after a 1-1 draw. Sunderland had looked the more threatening side for much of the game after hitting the front early through Jack Clarke.
Tom Cairney equalised on the hour though, and Fulham held on for the draw despite Rigg’s late chance.
The last match of the day saw Manchester United ease past Reading – managed by former United player Paul Ince – in a 3-1 victory.
United thought they had taken the lead in the first half until Marcus Rashford’s goal was ruled out, though Casemiro’s double in the opening stages of the second half put them comfortably ahead.
And Fred sealed victory with United’s third in the 66th minute, with Amadou Salif Mbengue’s header proving a mere consolation for The Royals.
In the first of the evening matches, Tottenham Hotspur sealed their place in the fifth round thanks to a 3-0 win over Preston North End at Deepdale.
The visitors were in control throughout the first half but were unable to break through Preston’s defence in a goalless first 45 minutes, though the eight-time champions picked up the pace in the second period.
Heung-min Son scored a superb brace to put Tottenham in the driving seat, and a late strike from Arnaut Danjuma on his debut sealed victory.
Grimsby Town’s FA Cup dream lives on for a few days more at least after they went to Championship Luton Town and earned a 2-2 draw.
Gavan Holohan put the League Two side in front just before half-time, with Elijah Adebayo levelling from the spot. Jordan Clark then put the Hatters in front but his effort was quickly cancelled out by Harry Clifton, who ensured that Grimsby will go into the hat for the fifth round.
Elsewhere, Ipswich and Burnley will have to face off again in a replay after playing out a goalless draw. League One promotion-chasers Ipswich were desperately close to taking it at the death, Conor Chaplin’s cross floating onto the woodwork in injury time.
The all-Championship battle between Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City was an entertaining encounter, as Jordan James’s late equaliser earned the Blues a 2-2 draw and a replay.
Rovers had turned things around after going behind to Reda Khadra’s opener after just three minutes, with Bradley Dack levelling the scores just after the half-hour.
Joe Rankin-Costello made it 2-1 to the home side right after half-time, but they could not quite hang on as James made his mark.
Southampton denied Mick McCarthy victory in his first game in charge of Blackpool, but the Premier League side were made to work hard for it. Romain Perraud scored once in each half in a 2-1 victory, with Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino pulling one back for the visitors.
And in the other all-Championship encounter Sam Bell scored twice with Alex Scott grabbing another as Bristol City eased past West Brom 3-0.
Last but not least, a week on from a 1-0 win in League One over the same opponents, high-flyers Sheffield Wednesday needed a Josh Earl own goal to grab a 1-1 draw against Fleetwood after Promise Omochere’s opener.
Discussion about this post