Leeds United powered their way into the Championship play-off final after dismantling Norwich City at a boisterous Elland Road tonight.
The home side dominated throughout a one-sided encounter with the tie effectively settled within 40 minutes as Leeds cruised into a 3-0 lead.
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Having adopted a more pragmatic approach in Sunday’s dour goalless draw at Carrow Road in the first leg, Leeds were back to their swashbuckling best in the return and secured their place at Wembley with goals from Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville.
They will meet the winner of tomorrow night’s second semi-final, second leg between Southampton and West Brom.
Norwich would have hoped to keep it tight early on in a bid to silence the crowd but they were unable to keep Leeds at bay with the hosts swarming forward at will.
Summerville could have scored in the early going but shot wastefully over but Daniel Farke’s men did move in front after seven minutes through an unlikely source.
Gruev sized up a free-kick 30 yards from goal, and with everyone expecting him to cross the ball to the far post, he opted instead to whip a clever effort past Norwich keeper Angus Gunn at his near post.
Gunn was culpable again 13 minutes later as Leeds doubled their lead, failing to come off his line to collect a Wilfried Gnonto cross from the right, allowing Piroe the simple task of heading into the net.
If Norwich were to stand any chance they needed a swift response but, having been presented with a clear run on goal after an uncharacteristic slip from Ethan Ampadu, Josh Sargent hit his shot straight at Illan Meslier.
It was to prove a costly miss as Leeds added a third before the break.
Piroe burst down the left, Summerville helped the cross on and Rutter crashed the ball into the net at the far post.
Rutter thunders in Leeds’ third ⚡⚡⚡ pic.twitter.com/TQsUAQU8MV
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 16, 2024
Gunn partly atoned for his earlier errors with two fine saves to deny Piroe as the second half started in a similar vein.
But he could do little to prevent Summerville getting on the scoresheet after a pull back from Junior Firpo as Leeds moved within one win of an immediate return to the top flight.
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