The day giants Leeds United were slain

Comment on MarchingOnTogether.co.uk news stories.
Post Reply
User avatar
YorkshireSquare
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 11583
Joined: Sun May 18, 2003 1:34 pm
Twitter: @motforum
Location: Leeds
Contact:

The day giants Leeds United were slain

Post by YorkshireSquare »



Leeds United have been in a strange position over the last few years due to our journey outside of the top division. It has meant we have been both the giants who were overcome by the minnows, Histon in 2008 springs to mind, and also providing some of the biggest shocks of the round by knocking out the giants, Manchester United in 2010 being the obvious occasion. If you need help finding a Betfair promo code the best place to look is at BettingPromotionCodes.com. Our current form and position towards the Championship means that we have to be careful once again not to be the upset of the round.

A tricky test was overcome at Cambridge in the third round thanks to an Alex Mowatt header but another potential banana skin lays ahead against Vanarama National League Sutton United. The two teams have faced each other before at the same stage of the competition back in 1970 when Leeds were six nil victors but the current team should take heed of the upsets from our past. Our biggest warning from history remains the 1973 FA Cup final when reigning FA Cup champions Leeds were beaten by Second Division Sunderland.


Leeds United 0, Sunderland 1 - FA Cup Final, Saturday 5th May 1973

In the 1973 FA Cup Final rank outsiders Sunderland completely ripped up the form book to pull off one of the biggest upsets in a Wembley Final. Ultra-professional Leeds, despite all their experience at the top level simply did not produce the goods. The plucky Wearsiders, roared on by a red and white wall of sound, belied football logic by lowering United’s colours. Inspired by their veteran Manager Bob Stokoe, Sunderland served up some good football against a United side who never seemed happy from the kick-off.

Sunderland had reached Wembley with a refreshing brand of soccer and, after weathering an early flurry of United attacks, began to play to their full potential. The Sunderland defence, centre-half Dave Watson in particular, closed down quickly on off-form Allan Clarke, Mick Jones and Eddie Gray, and pieced together some promising moves of their own.

After thirty-two minutes, diminutive midfield man Bobby Kerr put in a cunning lob which David Harvey was forced to tip away for a corner. Billy Hughes curled the kick in from the right, beyond United’s defensive cover under the challenge of Dave Watson, where Porterfield cushioned the ball on his thigh before crashing in a superb knee-high, right foot volley for the goal which was to win the Cup.





United’s all stars found themselves chasing the game immediately Sunderland got their noses in front just after the half hour mark. United had the bulk of possession but made precious little use of it as Micky Horswill tackled like a tiger in midfield, never allowing Billy Bremner or Johnny Giles time or space. White-faced United were playing as though the Cup was destined for the North-East and seemed to lack belief in their own ability until the final quarter of the match. Trevor Cherry, the only non-International in the United line-up, got forward more from full-back the longer the game went, having a goal disallowed and becoming involved in that remarkable Jim Montgomery save.

Inevitably, the game is often remembered for the save that enabled the Wear-siders to hang on to the Cup rather than for the goal that won it. Midway through the second half Trevor Cherry linked up with his attack and put in a diving header which goalkeeper Jim Montgomery did well to parry. The goalkeeper, who had been immaculate throughout, flung himself to his right to brilliantly palm away the close range header from Cherry, who had sneaked unnoticed into the box. The ball ran loose to Peter Lorimer who, unchallenged, hit the ball hard and true from short range, only for Montgomery to twist in the air and fling out his arms to tip the ball onto the underside of the bar for an amazing double reflex save which defied belief.

Montgomery‘s superb effort sapped the United spirit and, although they pushed forward belatedly, anything less than victory would have been harsh on underdogs Sunderland. Leeds had a loud appeal for a penalty, after Dave Watson brought down Billy Bremner in the box, turned down and it was Sunderland who finished on an upbeat note as Vic Halom drew a marvellous save out of David Harvey, United just hadn’t played up to scratch, particularly in attack, where Eddie Gray, who had sparkled against Chelsea in the 1970 Final, was shut out to such an extent that he was withdrawn before the end.

Sunderland became the first Second Division side to win the trophy since West Bromwich Albion beat Birmingham City 2-1 in 1931. For skipper Bobby Kerr it must have been particularly sweet leading his side to victory against Leeds, the team against whom he had broken his leg in the FA Cup encounter six years earlier. United’s agony did not end at Wembley, eleven days later their leg-weary warriors lost 1-0 to AC Milan in a controversial European Cup-Winners’ Cup Final in Greece.


For match reports on more of Leeds United's Greatest Games check out OzWhites Leeds United F.C. History.

Leeds United will face Sutton United in the 4th Round of the FA Cup on Sunday 29th January 2017 at 2.00pm live on BT Sport
Norm
Superstar
Superstar
Posts: 6935
Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 2:51 am
Location: SW Missouri USA

Re: FA Cup: The day giants Leeds United were slain

Post by Norm »

Adam I think Sunderland deserved their win, but A.C. Milan did not.
User avatar
1964white
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 127690
Joined: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:46 am
Twitter: @1964white

Re: FA Cup: The day giants Leeds United were slain

Post by 1964white »

Norm wrote:Adam I think Sunderland deserved their win, but A.C. Milan did not.
AC Milan had twelve men on the park that night, the official was banned from refereeing a match again after some atrocious decisions that grossly affected the outcome
User avatar
Durly
First Team
First Team
Posts: 2299
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2012 1:11 pm

Re: FA Cup: The day giants Leeds United were slain

Post by Durly »

1964white wrote:AC Milan had twelve men on the park that night, the official was banned from refereeing a match again after some atrocious decisions that grossly affected the outcome
..........and still, despite all the evidence, the authorities refuse to overturn the result.
Image
User avatar
BobHirst
Manager
Manager
Posts: 2958
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:20 pm
Location: Texas

Re: FA Cup: The day giants Leeds United were slain

Post by BobHirst »

I watched the Cup final with a room full of Leeds haters.
Good day for them, horrible for me.
User avatar
Crude
Superstar
Superstar
Posts: 5676
Joined: Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:43 pm
Location: 'Merica

Re: FA Cup: The day giants Leeds United were slain

Post by Crude »

It was this very match that I found and feel in love with Leeds United, oddly enough.

It's been a long strange trip since, but worth it and more.
RIP Twiggster, March 5, 2023

Chris & Kevin | Never Forgotten | April 5, 2000

Gary Andrew Speed, MBE — Always In Our Hearts, 1969-2011
Post Reply