LEEDS UNITED 4-0 NORWICH CITY

 

Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg

Leeds United 4 (Gruev 7’, Piroe 20’, Rutter 40’, Summerville 68’)

Norwich City 0

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Leeds: Meslier (GK), Firpo, Ampadu (C), Piroe (Joseph 74’), Kamara, Summerville (Anthony 74’), Rodon, Gray, Georginio (Roberts 74’), Gnonto (James 69’), Gruev (Cooper 83’). Subs not used: Darlow (GK), Cresswell, Cooper, Shackleton, Gelhardt.

Norwich: Gunn (GK), Stacey, Gibson (McCallum 63’), Sargent (Sainz 46’), Barnes (van Hooijdonk 81’), Sara, McLean (C), Duffy, Nunez, Rowe (Sorensen 81’), Giannoulis (Fassnacht 63’). Subs not used: Long (GK), Hanley, Batth, Fisher.

Leeds United secured their spot in next weekend’s Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final with a dominant 4-0 victory over Norwich City at Elland Road.

With over 36,000 fans in attendance, Leeds took a commanding lead in the first half with goals from Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe, and Georginio Rutter. Crysencio Summerville added a fourth after the interval to seal the win.

Summerville had the first chance for Leeds, cutting in from the left to combine with Georginio, whose deft back-heel put him through, but from a tight angle, Summerville couldn’t beat Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

Gunn was called into action again soon after, rushing out to stop a through ball from Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu aimed at Piroe.

Leeds continued to apply pressure, and Joe Rodon’s forward run earned a free kick in a promising position on the right. Ilia Gruev stepped up and curled a perfect free kick inside the near post, beating Gunn and giving Leeds an early lead, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Determined to extend their lead, Leeds pressed on. Archie Gray, playing as a full-back, delivered a precise pass down the line to Wilfried Gnonto, maintaining the relentless pressure on Norwich.

The Italian international surged forward, bypassing Georginio’s tireless run, and delivered a superb cross to Piroe at the back post. Piroe expertly headed the ball back across Gunn, doubling Leeds’ lead and sending Elland Road into a frenzy.

Norwich nearly responded immediately after the restart, but Leeds keeper Illan Meslier made a brilliant one-on-one save to deny Josh Sargent’s chipped effort. Sargent had broken through on goal after latching onto a long ball from deep.

Leeds almost made it three just after the half-hour mark. Joe Rodon met a dangerous corner from Summerville, glancing a header just wide of Gunn’s far post, leaving the Norwich goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Gnonto was next to come close, following a superb passing sequence that ended with Piroe setting him up. From the edge of the area, the 20-year-old unleashed a low drive that stung Gunn’s palms.

Five minutes before the break, with Leeds pressing hard in Norwich's half, Piroe skillfully wriggled free from his marker. Exploiting Norwich’s high defensive line, he raced down the left flank and sent a dangerous cross across the face of goal. The ball deflected off Shane Duffy and fell to Georginio at the back post, who fired home off the underside of the crossbar, igniting wild celebrations at Elland Road.

Just before referee Jarred Gillett blew for halftime, Georginio nearly added a fourth goal during a goal-line scramble, but he couldn’t find the space to get a shot away amidst a sea of yellow shirts.

HALF TIME: Leeds United 3-0 Norwich City

Within seconds of the restart, Leeds continued their impressive play, creating an opportunity for Piroe. Georginio and Summerville combined beautifully to set up the Dutchman, whose first-time shot inside the area forced Gunn into a smart save.

A series of chances followed. Summerville first headed Gray’s in-swinging delivery narrowly over, and then Gunn had to save excellently with his feet to deny the winger from the left.

As Leeds pushed for a fourth goal, Gunn was again called into action, smothering the ball as Piroe prepared to shoot.

Norwich's half-time substitute, Borja Sainz, had their first chance of the second half just after the hour mark. His low strike from distance was easily cleared by Ampadu.

Any hopes Norwich had of a comeback were dashed when Summerville made it 4-0. A brilliant move saw Gnonto's fierce shot saved by Gunn, but the Norwich keeper could only parry it into the path of Junior Firpo. Firpo’s cut-back left Summerville with an easy tap-in.

Leeds continued to create further chances as Farke made several substitutions against his former team. Elland Road was in high spirits as the Whites secured their place in the Play-Off Final at Wembley next weekend.

Leeds United will face the winner of the Southampton vs. West Bromwich Albion match in the capital, with a chance to earn promotion back to the Premier League.

FULL TIME: Leeds United 4-0 Norwich City