Leeds United 4-0 Norwich City (Agg 4-0): Daniel Farke’s side beat Canaries to reach Championship play-off final | Football news

Leeds reached the Sky Bet Championship play-off final as they hammered Norwich 4-0 in the second leg of their semi-final.

After a goalless draw at Carrow Road on Sunday, Leeds blew away their opponents in Thursday night’s second leg at home to Elland Road, booking their place at Wembley.

First-half goals from Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter put them well on their way, while Crysencio Summerville completed the scoring after the break.

They will face either Southampton or West Brom for a place in next season’s Premier League on Sunday, May 26.

Leeds excel with the big opportunity to get closer to a PL return

It was the perfectly soothing start from Leeds. Just seven minutes in they were in front too as Gruev’s brilliant, quick free-kick completely eluded Angus Gunn in the Norwich goal. He was expecting a cross and got the wrong foot, seeing the ball sneak in at the near post from 25 yards.

After 20 minutes they doubled their advantage. Again, Gunn would not have been happy with his role in it, failing to act decisively to claim Wilfried Gnonto’s cross, allowing Piroe to get his head on the ball and find the back of the net.

Norwich should have been in it again two minutes later as Ethan Ampadu’s slide allowed Josh Sargent to slot in on goal. The striker has been so clinical all season but on this occasion he was denied by Illan Meslier who rose to save.

And the Canaries would rue that miss even more in the 41st minute when Summerville teed up Rutter, who thundered in a third for Leeds under the crossbar.

It went from bad to worse early in the second half for Norwich as Sargent, their key no. 9, was forced off due to injury. And it turned into another nightmare and a dream for Leeds as Summerville made it four, slotting home from close range after Gunn had headed Junior Firpo’s cross into the path.

Farke praises the “clinical” part, but won’t get carried away

Leeds head said Daniel Farke Sky Sports Football:

“When I watch the game at home, on the sofa, I will be happy! During the game, I just focused on making the right decisions. But the team was brilliant today and a bit more brutal and clinical in front of goal. finish the game

“In the last seasons we spent in this league we were promoted twice. They are currently in the play-off final.

“If someone had told us we’d be at Wembley and one game away from the Premier League at the start of September, I wouldn’t have said there was no chance. But now we have that chance.”

A magical night for Leeds: All the goals

Step two: In numbers

Sixth time lucky? Will Leeds finally end their play-off hoodoo?

Sky Sports EFL Editor Simeon Gholam:

“Any fears of a play-off semi-final nightmare like the one they faced Derby five years ago were quickly dispelled at Elland Road.

“Leeds went for the jugular early and rarely let up. He simply stunned Norwich with a bombastic first half. It was among the best performances of the season and it came at the perfect time.

“Will they go on to Wembley and step it up now? Their record suggests not. But history must be changed, and bad records are there to be broken.

“If they play something like they did on Thursday night at the national stadium, nobody will be able to cope.”

Leeds have appeared in the EFL play-offs five times previously and failed to gain promotion on either occasion.

• 1986/87 – lost in the Second Division (now Championship) final over two legs to Charlton Athletic. This was before the final was played as a one-off at Wembley.
• 2005/06 – lost 3-0 to Watford in the Championship final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
• 2007/08 – lost League 1 final to Doncaster at Wembley.
• 2008/09 – lost in League 1 semi-finals to Millwall.
• 2018/19 – lost in the Championship semi-finals to Derby County.
• 2023/24 – in the championship final at Wembley

Wagner: I was second best

Norwich head David Wagner said Sky Sports Football:

“We were poor tonight, unfortunately when it mattered. This hurts a lot, but I would like to thank all my staff and players for all their efforts this season, even if the truth is that we were poor today.

“At the end of the day in the play-offs you have to stay in the game. To concede a second and a third was very bad and gave us a mountain to climb, which we couldn’t do.

“I was second best today.”

What’s next?

Leeds advance to the Sky Bet Championship play-off final, where they will face each other West Brom or Southampton at Wembley on Sunday 26 May live Sky Sports Football.

Norwich will remain in the second tier for the 2024/25 campaign.