Marco Silvestri was the hero as Leeds beat Norwich 3-2 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup after a thrilling fourth-round tie at Elland Road. Silvestri saved spot-kicks from Alex Pritchard, Steven Naismith and Robbie Brady before Ronaldo Vieira scored the winner.
Leeds striker Marcus Antonsson had cancelled out Pritchard’s opener before the break and after Nelson Oliveira had put Norwich back in front in extra time, Chris Wood struck in the 109th minute as the game ended 2-2.
Garry Monk’s side, who had used all three substitutes, played the whole of extra time with 10 men after the defender Lewie Coyle limped off injured in the 90th minute. But they forced the shoot-out and, despite Kalvin Phillips seeing his effort saved by John Ruddy and Matt Grimes firing over, Vieira held his nerve to clinch Leeds a place in the quarter-finals.
There was a minute’s applause prior to kick-off for the former Leeds goalkeeper Gary Sprake, who died last week aged 71. The Welshman made more than 500 appearances for the club under Don Revie in the 1960s and 70s and his tribute was warmly observed.
Sprake would have approved when Silvestri prevented Norwich from taking the lead in the opening seconds as the Italian smothered Naismith’s shot.
Leeds were not so lucky the next time Norwich swept forward down the left as the unmarked Pritchard stooped low to head home in the 14th minute from Brady’s cross.
Leeds defender Kyle Bartley had a goal disallowed when he clearly handled Alex Mowatt’s corner into the net, but Monk’s side eventually found their equaliser in the 43rd minute. Kemar Roofe crossed to the far post and from Souleymane Doukara’s knock-back Antonsson turned the ball home.
Norwich seized back the initiative with the man advantage in extra time and after Pritchard’s shot flew narrowly wide, the visitors regained the lead in the 99th minute.
Pritchard was again pivotal, whipping in a brilliant cross from Brady’s short corner for Oliveira to head home unmarked at the far post, but Leeds were back on level terms again 10 minutes later. Ruddy could only parry Hadi Sacko’s low, angled shot and Wood swept home to take the tie to penalties.
Mike Phelan celebrated his first win since being handed the Hull City job on a full-time basis, with a 2-1 win at Bristol City, guiding his side into the quarter-finals for the second successive year.
Phelan hopes Hull’s EFL Cup run can lift the “gloomy” atmosphere caused by the club’s slide down the Premier League table. Five successive league defeats has dropped Hull into the relegation zone.
“It has been quite gloomy when you’re getting beaten week in and week out,” Phelan said. “But you can see in the dressing room that a win’s a win and it does mean a lot.
“It gives you confidence to start again, because we all know the Premier League is unforgiving at times. We showed that we can win football matches again so let’s move forward.”
Harry Maguire headed the Premier League side in front from a corner just before half-time. It was 2-0 only two minutes into the second half when Michael Dawson nodded in from another Hull corner.
The Championship side scored a late consolation through a fine individual effort from the substitute Lee Tomlin before Tammy Abraham saw an effort cleared off the line in the closing moments.
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