White hot Leeds United stun Everton

Aidan White’s first ever goal gave the Whites a flying start in the fourth minute and Rodolph Austin added a second after the break before Sylvain Distin’s header for Everton made it a nervy finish.

Neil Warnock’s men were quick out of the blocks and were soon ahead when forcing a defensive mistake from their opponents. Austin swooped on a loose ball to find White and the speedy youngster took the ball round a defender before placing a curling shot into the top corner of the net.

It stayed 1-0 to half-time with little seen of Everton in attack in the first period with a Victor Anichebe shot wide their only effort of note.

Leeds were more solid than spectacular, but did play the better football with Jason Pearce heading over from an El Hadji Diouf free-kick, Michael Tonge firing an ambitious angled free-kick just wide and White forcing a save from keeper Jan Mucha.

They created a great chance just before the break when Diouf picked out Luciano Becchio, but the Argentine striker’s header was well saved by Mucha then cleared off the line by Steven Naismith.

Everton improved after the break after bringing on first teamers Steven Pienaar and Phil Neville with Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini both hitting efforts wide and Naismith missing a gilt edged chance with a free header in the box,

Tonge went close with a shot after a run into the box from his left-wing position before the action switched back to the other end as Anichebe hit a shot wide after a smart turn in the area.

United made it 2-0, however, after 69 minutes when Danny Pugh – on his first start of the season – fired a shot into a crowded goalmouth from a Diouf pull back and the ball was flicked into the net from close range by Austin.

Sam Byram saw a shot deflected wide as he burst into the box looking to put the tie to bed, but Everton were next to strike when Anichebe flicked on a free-kick and Distin’s looping header beat home keeper Jamie Ashdown.

The Toffees put in a big finish with several goalmouth scrambles and a couple of appeals for penalties that fell on deaf ears, but the Leeds defence, well led by the head bandaged duo Pearce and Tom Lees, held firm and deservedly won through to the last 16 of the competition.

Match facts

Leeds United 2

(White 4, Austin 69)

Everton 1

(Distin 81)

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Capital One Cup, round three

Att: 21,164

Leeds: Ashdown, Byram, Lees, Pearce, Pugh, White, Austin, Brown, Tonge, Diouf, Becchio.

Everton: Mucha, Coleman, Heitinga, Distin, Oviedo, Naismith (Jelavic 65), Junior (Neville 45), Gueye (Pienaar 45), Fellaini, Mirallas, Anichebe.

Referee: Lee Mason.