Leeds United’s EFL Cup hero goalkeeper Marco Silvestri reveals his wife helped him to save the Norwich penalties
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LEEDS UNITED'S penalty-saving hero Marco Silvestri has revealed how his model wife helped him and Leeds United make their way into the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.
The Whites defeated Norwich City 3-2 on penalties after the two sides were locked at 2-2 after extra-time. Silvestri saved three penalties.
The Championship club now face Liverpool at Anfield - a dream tie for the Italian goalkeeper.
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Silvestri’s wife Sofia watched some Norwich City penalties with the Whites’ No 2 goalkeeper before the game, and despite having only ten men after Lewis Coyle hobbled off after all three subs had been made, the Yorkshire triumphed.
Norwich had led in both normal time and extra time, through Alex Pritchard’s far-post header early on and Nelson Oliveira’s close-range nod-in after 99 minutes. But Leeds levelled each time, from Marcus Antonsson’s 43rd minute tap-in and substitute Chris Wood’s point-blank effort.
The Italian had an amazing shootout experience – keeping the Canaries out on three occasions from Alex Pritchard, Steven Naismith and Robbie Brady– with the goalkeeper’s tactics in denying Pritchard standing out.
It seemed appropriate that Silvestri should prove to be the hero on a night where Leeds United paid tribute to one of the best goalkeepers in their history.
Norwich City was the club's first game at Elland Road since it was announced that Gary Sprake had passed away at the age of 71.
Silvestri has found himself behind former England international Rob Green under head coach Garry Monk this season. In fact, Silvestri had been banished from the squad altogether during pre-season, training with the Under 23s before returning to sit on the bench for 11 straight Championship matches.
Silvestri has featured in nearly all the cup games however, only missing the Fleetwood tie, also won on penalties, and has since played against Luton, Blackburn and now Norwich.
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Speaking to a local newspaper this week he told how he and his Mrs studied the Norwich City penalty takers before the game – during which it was shown how midfielder Pritchard prefers to strike his down the middle.
And of course, Pritchard did go down the middle and Silvestri won the battle of nerves on the night.
He then saved a poor effort from Naismith and his third save from Brady was deemed truly world class as he pushed it into the ground and up over the bar, deservedly deciding the outcome as youngster Ronaldo Vieira coolly tucked away Leeds’ final penalty to win 3-2.
A saved Kalvin Phillips attempt and a wild miss by Matt Grimes proved irrelevant in the end.
The Italian goalie made it clear after the game that his dream tie in the quarter-finals would be against Liverpool at Anfield, and his dream came true.
Silvestri is under contract at Leeds until 2018 but is again expected to drop back to the bench when Leeds play Burton Albion at Elland Road this weekend in the Championship.