Willy Gnonto and Patrick Bamford each struck twice as Leeds United thumped Cardiff City 5-2 of their FA Cup third-round replay at Elland Road.
Gnonto gave Leeds a flying begin with a shocking volley contained in the opening minute and fired house his second after Rodrigo had struck his eleventh aim of the season to place his aspect 3-0 up earlier than the interval.
Substitute Patrick Bamford then bagged a second-half double earlier than Callum Robinson scored two late consolations for Cardiff, the second a penalty, as Leeds reached the fourth spherical of the competitors for the primary time in six years.
Leeds scored 5 objectives for the primary time since beating West Brom 5-0 in December 2020 and now face an away tie at Accrington or Boreham Wood.
A stoppage-time equaliser from Leeds teenager Sonny Perkins salvaged a replay on the Cardiff City Stadium 10 days in the past, however the managerless Sky Bet Championship strugglers have been put to the sword earlier than half-time.
Cardiff sacked Mark Hudson after Saturday’s 1-1 house draw towards Wigan prolonged their winless run to 9 video games in all competitions, nevertheless it was an evening to neglect for interim boss Dean Whitehead in his first recreation in cost.
Rodrigo clipped an inch-perfect ball into the penalty space, which cleared Cardiff defender Tom Sang, and Gnonto scissor-kicked his volley into the roof of the web after simply 28 seconds.
Gnonto was denied by Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick’s very good save, however Leeds successfully killed the tie with two objectives in as many minutes to maneuver 3-0 up earlier than half-time.
Rodrigo lower inside after latching on to Jack Harrison’s effective move to curve house a low end for his eleventh aim of the season within the thirty fourth minute and Gnonto drove house his second of the evening following an incisive counter-attack.
Cardiff thought they’d pulled one again earlier than the break when skipper Curtis Nelson headed house Sheyi Ojo’s nook.
But after a VAR intervention, referee Thomas Bramall dominated it out as Andy Rinomhota had been offside.
Leeds picked up the place they left off after the restart and Gnonto fired into the side-netting as he went in pursuit of a hat-trick.
Alnwick stored out substitute Joe Gelhardt’s stinging drive, however two extra half-time replacements mixed to place Leeds 4-0 forward within the 71st minute as Bamford ran on to Luke Ayling’s move and utilized a neat end.
Bamford notched his second to make it 5-0 5 minutes later, nonchalantly ending with the surface of his left boot after being arrange by Gelhardt.
Cardiff substitute Robinson took a number of the gloss off Leeds’ evening by heading house Ojo’s cross and changing a stoppage-time penalty after VAR deemed Marc Roca to have dealt with.
