Sunday January 6th

Cardiff City 2-1 Leeds United

FA Cup Round 3

Cardiff 2 Leeds United 1

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport

 

The Football Association are certain to launch an immediate investigation after ugly scenes marred one of the greatest FA Cup shocks of recent times.

 

While Cardiff's longest-serving player Scott Young emerged the hero by netting an 85th-minute winner to send Premiership leaders Leeds tumbling out of the FA Cup, City's fans then ruined the glory their players had striven so hard to achieve.

 

Much has been done by the game's authorities since the dark days of the 1980s to restore football's good name but a pitch invasion the instant referee Andy D'Urso blew the final whistle to celebrate a famous day, turned nasty.

 

Cardiff supporters poured out of the Grange End of Ninian Park and immediately began to taunt the 2,200 Leeds fans gathered in the corner of the same stand.

 

Coins and other objects were hurled between the two bitter factions, with the South Wales Constabulary forced to intervene as they attempted to restore order, ultimately leading to baton-wielding charge by the police and the introduction of alsatians.

 

Cardiff fans retreated as the police moved in and unsurprisingly there were a few casualties as the melee ensued, with at least two people requiring treatment as they lay on the pitch.

 

Objects were also thrown by supporters during the game, the first a plastic bottle aimed at Leeds defender Ian Harte in the first minute as he waited to take a throw.

 

But the second, 10 minutes from time, and what appeared to be a coin, struck D'Urso on the side of the head and led to him requiring treatment courtesy of Cardiff physio Clive Griffiths.

 

 

When you add into the equation the sixth red card of Alan Smith's controversial career, this was a third-round tie which will be remembered for a long time.

 

Smith has only just emerged from the shadows of his red card for an elbow on Aston Villa defender Alpay just six weeks ago, but has immediately been plunged back into the darkness following this latest dismissal.

 

There are suggestions manager David O'Leary had vowed, in the wake of such a hot-headed moment, that one more indiscretion from Smith and his future at Leeds would be in serious jeopardy.

 

O'Leary, though, is unlikely to take Smith to task on this occasion as it was clear the 43-year-old Irishman was incensed with D'Urso's decision on the stroke of half-time.

 

The red mist which has blighted Smith's short tenure in a white jersey appeared to descend as he attempted to fend off the unwanted attentions of Andy Legg as the left-back had a firm hold of the 21-year-old's shirt.

 

Smith, in trying to free himself and run on, blindly and accidentally caught the 35-year-old Legg in the face with his forearm, the defender then falling to the ground.

 

It could be argued Legg made a meal of the challenge, and that Smith's reputation - not for the first time - preceded him as D'Urso did not hesitate in issuing the red card.

 

Smith, who has now been sent off five times for Leeds and once at England Under-21 level, dismissively waved his hand at D'Urso and the card which has haunted him throughout his days at Elland Road.

 

O'Leary then remonstrated with fourth official Clive Wilkes on the sidelines at the same time as Smith was trudging forlornly back to the dressing room with head bowed and with D'Urso also booking Legg for the shirt pull.

 

Unlike on previous occasions when Smith has taken an early bath, this time O'Leary might appeal to the Football Association to clear the name of his young star.

 

But it was the turning point of a highly-contentious game and gave Cardiff, 10th in the Second Division, the confidence needed to stage a famous triumph, just as they had done in the 1950s when paired with Leeds on three successive occasions at the third round stage, winning all three by a scoreline of 2-1 at Elland Road.

 

This was history repeating itself on a day which started with a standing ovation for former Leeds and Cardiff legend John Charles as both sets of fans rose to acclaim the man renowned as 'The Gentle Giant'.

 

As if to further underline what a torrid day it would be for Leeds, a clattering eighth minute challenge on United skipper Rio Ferdinand by Gavin Gordon forced the England international centre-back out of the game, leading to the appearance of Michael Duberry as substitute.

 

For the first time since Duberry gave evidence against Jonathan Woodgate in the re-trial at Hull Crown Court where the 21-year-old faced charges of grievous bodily harm and affray in relation to an assault on student Sarfraz Najeib, O'Leary was forced to pair the two defenders together.

 

Duberry claimed in a television interview prior to Christmas that Woodgate had not spoken to him since the initial trial 10 months ago, and it was clear the unease still exists as they barely acknowledged one another throughout the remainder of the game.

 

But that seemed to matter little as Leeds' fears about losing Ferdinand were then eased in the 12th minute as they took the lead courtesy of a howler from Spencer Prior.

 

The centre back passed the ball out of defence into the path of the Australia international, who then strode forward and stroked his 12th goal of the season past Neil Alexander from 18 yards.

 

But just nine minutes later, following a Smith foul on Legg, the equaliser followed and pandemonium ensued inside Ninian Park as Cardiff fans scented a shock.

 

Skipper Graham Kavanagh, a £1million summer signing from Stoke, brilliantly curled home a 22-yard right-foot free-kick into the top right-hand corner for his ninth goal of the season.

 

Then came Smith's dismissal and it came as no surprise when the constant blue-wave of City's attacks reaped rich reward in the 85th minute, with Young poking home the sensational winner as Leeds failed to clear their lines from a Kavanagh corner.

 

It is just a pity the celebrations which followed five minutes later could not then be confined to the stands as the euphoria of the Cardiff fans spilled over into scenes many thought had long since disappeared from British football grounds.

 

An Football Association spokesman said the governing body would await a report on the match from D'Urso before deciding whether to launch an investigation.

 

It promises to be a packed report.

 

D'Urso is sure to mention objects being thrown from the crowd during the game - particularly as one hit him and left him requiring treatment.

 

He may also mention how Cardiff owner Sam Hammam provocatively walked in front of visiting Leeds fans towards the end of the match to stand behind the goal Cardiff were attacking.

 

A pitch invasion at the end of the match and the crowd trouble which followed will surely leave the FA with little alternatively but to set up an inquiry.

 

 

Teams

 

Cardiff: Alexander, Gabbidon, Prior, Young, Legg, Boland, Bonner, Kavanagh, Brayson, Earnshaw, Gordon (Fortune-West 79).

 

Subs Not Used: Maxwell, Bowen, Weston, Low.

 

Booked: Boland, Bonner.

 

Goals: Kavanagh 21, Young 87.

 

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Woodgate, Ferdinand (Duberry 10), Harte, Kelly, Bowyer, Batty, Smith, Viduka, Fowler.

 

Subs Not Used: McPhail, Robinson, Wilcox, Richardson.

 

Sent Off: Smith (43).

 

Booked: Harte, Duberry.

 

Goals: Viduka 12.

 

Att: 22,009

 

Ref: A D'Urso (Billericay).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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