Leeds suffer EFL Cup upset as League Two Salford make history with shootout win

29 August 2023 , 21:28

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Salford have reached the third round for the first time ever (Image: Getty Images)

League Two Salford City dumped Championship side Leeds out of the EFL Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout.

Salford reached the third round of the competition for the first time in their history after surviving a second-half onslaught and triumphing in a nerve-shredding shoot-out

Leeds dominated the game and laid siege to the Salford goal in the second-half, registering 33 shots in total, compared to five from the home side.

Giorginio Rutter missed from the spot for Leeds, then Salford's Connor McLennan struck the bar, to send the tie into sudden death.

Jamie Shackleton hit the bar, leaving Ossama Ashley to score to send Salford through. Ashley's penalty was saved by Karl Darlow, but had to be re-taken after he came off his line early.

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Ashley made no mistake at the second attempt, sending Salford - owned by Manchester United's Class of 92 - through.

The first chance of the night went to the visitors after two minutes, Crysencio Summerville sending a 20-yard free-kick straight into the grateful arms of Salford keeper Alex Cairns.

Seconds later, Salford got sight of the Leeds goal, Luke Bolton surging down the right and crossing for Callum Hendry, whose first-time effort flew just over the bar.

It proved a fleeting opportunity for the hosts, as Leeds set about underlining their superiority, with Wilfried Gnonto tormenting Salford right-back Liam Shephard with his pace and direct running.

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Leeds created a host of chances, many of them conjured by the guile of Gnonto from the left. Georgino Rutter sent a shot over, while Shephard blocked a goalbound effort from Gnonto.

Farke's side laid siege to the Salford goal, Summerville hitting a post with a dipping effort midway through the first-half, Gnoto then blazing over from 12 yards out when he seemed certain to score.

Salford continued to live dangerously, Cairns producing a decent save on the half-hour mark to keep out a fierce shot from Archie Gray, after a rampaging run through the middle.

But it was the home side who took the lead in the 34 ^th minute with a fine header from Matt Smith, who nodded the ball in from a Luke Garbutt cross.

Ashley could have made it 2-0 just before the break, but sent a header just over from a Stevie Mallan corner.

The second-half was played almost entirely in Salford's half, with Leeds piling the pressure on their opponents, with skipper Pascal Struijk turning the ball in with 14 minutes left.

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Cairns produced a fine save low down to his right with a minute remaining, to palm away a shot from Georginio Rutter, which looked destined for the bottom corner of the net.

The Salford keeper came to his side's rescue again in the 94 ^th minute, denying sub Luis Sinisterra with another vital stop to keep it at 1-1.

Leeds sub Sam Greenwood hit the bar with a dipping free-kick in the 96 ^th minute, as the game went to a sudden-death shoot-out.

David McDonnell