Leeds United 2 Norwich City 2: Leeds win 3-2 on penalties thanks to Marco Silvestri’s 3 shootout saves to reach League Cup quarter-finals for only the second time in 20 years
High-flying Canaries lead twice against their Championship rivals - but Ronaldo Vieira hits spot-kick winner for the hosts
MARCO SILVESTRI'S three shootout saves put Leeds in the League Cup quarter-finals for only the second time in 20 years.
Norwich 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 Chris Wood's point-blank effort.
Then Ronaldo Vieira clinched a 3-2 success on penalties for the mid-table hosts over their fourth-placed Championship rivals.
Leeds boss Garry Monk said: “I am so proud of my players because they were incredible out there.
“Our determination and intensity was fantastic, particularly second half.
“Keeper Marco is one of the best shot-stoppers that I’ve seen.”
Ten things we learnt as Leeds reach the last eight
- There was a poignant moment before kick-off with a round of applause from the fans in honour of former Leeds keeper Gary Sprake, who passed away last week at the age of 71.
- Managers Garry Monk, of Leeds, and Canaries chief Alex Neil are great friends. But this was the first time they had been brought together since going on loan as players to Barnsley 12 years ago.
- Both Monk and Neil insist they are taking this competition seriously, yet both made wholesale changes from last weekend's Championship line-ups.
- Leeds have made a habit of leaving it late to win in the League Cup this season, with three of their four goals in this competition coming in the last 10 minutes of games.
- Both these sides are past winners of the competition - Leeds in 1968, and Norwich in 1962 and 1985. But each of them were looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2012.
- Gaetano Berardi was making his first appearance for the home side since the opening day of the season after being plagued by a series of injury problems.
- Monk has fond memories of the League Cup, being part of the Swansea team that beat Bradford in the final to lift the trophy three years ago.
- Despite two sections of the ground being closed off, Elland Road still attracted a crowd of over 20,000 for this all-Championship clash.
- When Leeds were humbled 3-0 by Aston Villa in the 1996 Final, their fans booed manager Howard Wilkinson and his players off the Wembley pitch.
- Alex Pritchard hasn't had much of a look-in for the Canaries this season, but his first-half opener was his second goal in only two starts.
