Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Tale of two penalties at Emirates
Saturday, 08 January, 2011
Leeds denied another famous upset by a late penalty.
Arsenal 1-1 Leeds United
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper
12.45pm, Saturday 8 January 2011
Emirates Stadium, Arsenal FC
Live on ITV1
Winning club receives £67,500 from The FA Cup prize fund
Both clubs receive live broadcast fee of £144,000 each
Leeds United, who famously knocked Manchester United out of The FA Cup last season, came within a whisker of producing another major upset at Arsenal but were denied by a last-gasp penalty from Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas coolly fired home for a relieved Arsenal in the 90th minute after Robert Snodgrass had earlier put Leeds ahead, also from the penalty spot in the 54th minute in the Third Round tie.
It was a cruel blow for the Championship side who had produced a hugely impressive and well-organised display, but at least they have the consolation of a lucrative replay at Elland Road following a 1-1 draw in north London.
The result means Leeds could not quite recreate the drama of last season when they knocked Man United out of the competition with a goal from Jermaine Beckford at Old Trafford and then earned a dramatic 2-2 draw at Tottenham in the Fourth Round before eventually bowing out in the replay.
This time their dreams are still alive, however, even though the world's oldest Cup competition hasn't always been kind to the Yorkshire club who have lifted it only once in their illustrious history, beating Arsenal in the Centenary Final of 1972 thanks to a goal from Allan Clarke.
They still sing songs about Clarke at Elland Road, of course, and current manager Simon Grayson is doing his best to bring back the glory days after clinching promotion to the Championship, where Leeds are now well placed to go up again – currently sitting fifth, only two points behind an automatic promotion spot. And on this evidence they are certainly on the way back.
Grayson's side certainly looked well drilled and confident in the first half at the Emirates, even though Arsenal created a string of chances to take the lead.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger had opted to rest key players such as Lucasz Fabianski, Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott and perhaps that affected the fluency of his team who couldn't find a way through.
Andrei Arshavin went close with a snap shot from outside the area which was well saved by Kasper Schmeichel, while Jonathan Howson cleared off the line when Sebastien Squillaci looked certain to score in the 29th minute.
Schmeichel was certainly the busier of the two keepers, also saving twice from Nicklas Bendtner and once from Marouane Chamakh. But it was Arsenal youngster Wojciech Szczesny who was picking the ball out of the net after 54 minutes when Leeds won a clear penalty.
Winger Max Gradel jigged his way into the area down the left and was blatantly tripped by Denilson, who could only watch in despair as Snodgrass converted the penalty with conviction.
It could have been 2-0 after 64 minutes, too, when Szczesny made a superb save to keep out Luciano Becchio from a corner routine.
By that stage Wenger had brought on captain Fabregas in a bid to get Arsenal, who haven't won a trophy since lifting The FA Cup in 2005, back in the game. But they found Leeds' resolute defence difficult to breach.
Snodgrass went mightily close to doubling Leeds' advantage with a 20-yard free-kick that only just slid past Szczesny's right-hand post and the skill and tenacity of the entire Leeds midfield – together with the steely determination of their defence - must give the Yorkshiremen huge hope for the remainder of the season.
In contrast Arsenal, with the honourable exception of the excellent Johan Djourou at centre-half, looked out of sorts. But they did manage a late rally that saved the day in the end.
The home side thought they had won a late penalty when Walcott went down in the area, only to discover the flag was actually up for offside. But seconds later, in the 90th minute, Ben Parker tugged on Walcott's shirt inside the area and Fabregas fired home from 12 yards to clinch a replay.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Squillaci, Gibbs, Rosicky (Vela 79), Denilson, Song (Fabregas 59), Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh (Walcott 68). Subs not used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Clichy, Miquel.
Booked: Rosicky, Denilson
Leeds United: Schmeichel, Connolly, Bruce, O'Brien, Parker, Watt (Bromby 76), Howson, Johnson, Gradel (Hughes 90), Snodgrass, Becchio (Somma 85). Subs not used: Higgs, Collins, Paynter, McCormack.
Booked: Parker, Howson
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Assistant referees: Adam Watts, Mike Mullarkey
Fourth official: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 59,520
Saturday, 08 January, 2011
Leeds denied another famous upset by a late penalty.
Arsenal 1-1 Leeds United
The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Third Round Proper
12.45pm, Saturday 8 January 2011
Emirates Stadium, Arsenal FC
Live on ITV1
Winning club receives £67,500 from The FA Cup prize fund
Both clubs receive live broadcast fee of £144,000 each
Leeds United, who famously knocked Manchester United out of The FA Cup last season, came within a whisker of producing another major upset at Arsenal but were denied by a last-gasp penalty from Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas coolly fired home for a relieved Arsenal in the 90th minute after Robert Snodgrass had earlier put Leeds ahead, also from the penalty spot in the 54th minute in the Third Round tie.
It was a cruel blow for the Championship side who had produced a hugely impressive and well-organised display, but at least they have the consolation of a lucrative replay at Elland Road following a 1-1 draw in north London.
The result means Leeds could not quite recreate the drama of last season when they knocked Man United out of the competition with a goal from Jermaine Beckford at Old Trafford and then earned a dramatic 2-2 draw at Tottenham in the Fourth Round before eventually bowing out in the replay.
This time their dreams are still alive, however, even though the world's oldest Cup competition hasn't always been kind to the Yorkshire club who have lifted it only once in their illustrious history, beating Arsenal in the Centenary Final of 1972 thanks to a goal from Allan Clarke.
They still sing songs about Clarke at Elland Road, of course, and current manager Simon Grayson is doing his best to bring back the glory days after clinching promotion to the Championship, where Leeds are now well placed to go up again – currently sitting fifth, only two points behind an automatic promotion spot. And on this evidence they are certainly on the way back.
Grayson's side certainly looked well drilled and confident in the first half at the Emirates, even though Arsenal created a string of chances to take the lead.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger had opted to rest key players such as Lucasz Fabianski, Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Samir Nasri, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott and perhaps that affected the fluency of his team who couldn't find a way through.
Andrei Arshavin went close with a snap shot from outside the area which was well saved by Kasper Schmeichel, while Jonathan Howson cleared off the line when Sebastien Squillaci looked certain to score in the 29th minute.
Schmeichel was certainly the busier of the two keepers, also saving twice from Nicklas Bendtner and once from Marouane Chamakh. But it was Arsenal youngster Wojciech Szczesny who was picking the ball out of the net after 54 minutes when Leeds won a clear penalty.
Winger Max Gradel jigged his way into the area down the left and was blatantly tripped by Denilson, who could only watch in despair as Snodgrass converted the penalty with conviction.
It could have been 2-0 after 64 minutes, too, when Szczesny made a superb save to keep out Luciano Becchio from a corner routine.
By that stage Wenger had brought on captain Fabregas in a bid to get Arsenal, who haven't won a trophy since lifting The FA Cup in 2005, back in the game. But they found Leeds' resolute defence difficult to breach.
Snodgrass went mightily close to doubling Leeds' advantage with a 20-yard free-kick that only just slid past Szczesny's right-hand post and the skill and tenacity of the entire Leeds midfield – together with the steely determination of their defence - must give the Yorkshiremen huge hope for the remainder of the season.
In contrast Arsenal, with the honourable exception of the excellent Johan Djourou at centre-half, looked out of sorts. But they did manage a late rally that saved the day in the end.
The home side thought they had won a late penalty when Walcott went down in the area, only to discover the flag was actually up for offside. But seconds later, in the 90th minute, Ben Parker tugged on Walcott's shirt inside the area and Fabregas fired home from 12 yards to clinch a replay.
Arsenal: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Squillaci, Gibbs, Rosicky (Vela 79), Denilson, Song (Fabregas 59), Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh (Walcott 68). Subs not used: Fabianski, Ramsey, Clichy, Miquel.
Booked: Rosicky, Denilson
Leeds United: Schmeichel, Connolly, Bruce, O'Brien, Parker, Watt (Bromby 76), Howson, Johnson, Gradel (Hughes 90), Snodgrass, Becchio (Somma 85). Subs not used: Higgs, Collins, Paynter, McCormack.
Booked: Parker, Howson
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Assistant referees: Adam Watts, Mike Mullarkey
Fourth official: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 59,520