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Two worldies eliminates Leeds from the FA Cup

This game was end to end and much closer than the score-line suggested. Leeds had chances to equalise the game but poor finishing and two incredible goals from Fulham costed them progression into the quarter finals, which would have been their first FA Cup quarter finals in 20 years.

Fulham have had most of the possession of the ball in the opening 15 minutes but it was Leeds who put the ball in the back of the net first after Marc Roca’s corner is glanced towards the goal by Weston McKennie which is parried towards Rutter who tapped it in but it is ruled out for a foul by McKennie as he pushed Harry Wilson.

Leeds who thought they got the lead in this FA Cup tie through Rutter fell behind to Fulham in the 21st minute due to a screamer by Joao Palhinha. He won the ball back before unleashing a 30 yard curler that went past the diving hands of Illan Meslier and into the top right corner.

Leeds got another goal chalked off but this time it was for offside. Luke Ayling’s volleyed cross is cleared by Fulham, but Rasmus Kristensen met that clearance with a shot of his own from a distance but Marek Rodak again parried the ball to a Leeds player but Wilfried Gnonto who tapped in the ball was caught offside.

Leeds got close to get an equaliser in the 45th minute after a beautiful build up play which saw McKennie driving forward with the ball before playing it to Gnonto who did a one-two with Crysencio Summerville then crossed the ball to the back post which was met by Rutter whose looping header hit the post.

This game was end to end and both teams performed well in the first half. Leeds were still in this game but they would have felt they were harshly done by the referee to have their first goal ruled out for a foul but Fulham found themselves in the lead through a wonder strike by the Portuguese midfielder.

Leeds have started the second half the better team, they had two good chances to get the equaliser. The first was in in the 49th minute after Rutter found Gnonto excellently but his strike was well saved by Rodak. The second was by the provider this time whose strike on the half-turn was tame and straight at the keeper.

However, it was Fulham who got the second in the 56th minute which put Leeds on the brink of elimination from the fifth round of the FA Cup. It was another great strike by the West Londoners as Ayling cleared the cross but only to Manor Solomon who played a one-two with Aleksandar Mitrovic before he curled the ball into the far right corner from the edge of the box.

Fulham got a third which would have been game over and guaranteed Fulham’s progression to the quarter finals but it was ruled out for offside as Cedric Soares’ cross found the head of Mitrovic but he was a yard or so offside.

Leeds started to attack more since the 70th minute in search of an incredible comeback and Fulham have went more defensive to hold on to their lead however a good defensive structure and unit from Fulham denied Leeds from getting anything out of this game. The game finished 2-0 to the hosts and Fulham progressed to round six of the FA Cup.

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