Cup exit for outclassed Leeds United
Yaya Toure rounds Jamie Ashdown for Manchester City's first goal against Leeds United. Picture: IAN HARBER
Leeds United’s cup exploits are over for another year after they were totally outclassed at Manchester City.
There was never the remotest chance of the Whites repeating their heroics of the previous round against Tottenham as they were trailing from the fifth minute at the Etihad Stadium and two down in 15 minutes.
Two more goals in the second half confirmed their fate in the fifth round tie and United were left to pick up the pieces on a season that has gone sour in recent weeks.
City were helped on their way by a harsh penalty, but the final score did not flatter therm as they could have doubled their score while Leeds rarely threatened with their only shot on target a Ross McCormack free-kick at the end of the first half.
The United fans in a capacity crowd resorted to entertaining themselves and with their sarcastic chants they were at least good value if the team was not.
It was hard work on the pitch from the moment when Yaya Toure latched onto Carlos Tevez’s flicked pass and confidently rounded keeper Jamie Ashdown to fire City ahead on five minutes.
Tevez came within inches of scoring soon after with a shot that shaved the outside of the post, but it was 2-0 on 15 minutes when referee Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot for the smallest of pull backs on the arm by Tom Lees on Sergio Aguero. Harsh it certainly was, but Aguero did not mind as he put the penalty away.
Leeds finally put an attack together as El Hadji Diouf headed over, but it remained comfortable for the hosts and they came close to a third goal when Sam Byram almost diverted a low kick into his own net and as Yaya Toure saw a well struck shot tipped over by Ashdown.
A free-kick in the 45th minute gave the Whites brief hope only for McCormack’s shot to be saved by underworked home keeper Costel Pantilimon.
Leeds, with subs Steve Morison and David Norris on, started the second half with more purpose only to fall further behind within seven minutes when Aguero surged into the box and crossed for Tevez to score with a close range volley.
Now it was about how many City would win by and former Leeds winger James Milner, Aguero and Yaya Toure all went close to netting and Jack Rodwell headed against the crossbar before Aguero did make it 4-0 on 74 minutes when finishing confidently after getting in behind the United defence onto David Silva’s pass.
Luke Varney headed one good chance over from Aidan White’s cross, but United went out of the cup with a whimper and could have let more in with Edin Dzeko forcing a good save from Ashdown.
Match facts
Manchester City 4
(Y Toure 5, Aguero 15, pen, 74, Tevez 52)
Leeds United 0
Sunday, February 17,2013
FA Cup round five
Att:46,849
Man City: Pantilimon, Zabaleta, K Toure, Nastasic, Kolarov, Milner, Garcia (Rodwell 60), Y Toure, Silva, Aguero (Dzeko 81), Tevez (Maicon 64).
Leeds: Ashdown, Byram, Lees, Peltier, Warnock, White, Brown (Norris 45), Austin (Tonge 77), Varney, Diouf, McCormack (Morison 45).
Referee: Mark Clattenburg.
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