West Ham 2 Leeds United 0 - VAR dismay as injury-hit Whites exit FA Cup after missed chances in capital - YEP 9/1/22
Leeds United once again exited the FA Cup at the third round stage but after an extremely contentious VAR call in Sunday's 2-0 loss at West Ham.
By Lee Sobot
The Irons went ahead the 34th minute but in highly
controversial fashion as Manuel Lanzini converted from a goalmouth scramble but
only after a crucial intervention from Jarrod Bowen who had been in an offside
position.
The goal stood despite a lengthy check from VAR and both
sides then squandered some fine chances to add to the scoring before the
Hammers finally put Leeds away deep in second half stoppage time as Bowen
finished off an Irons counter attack.
Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa was without nine players
due to injuries including the still absent Patrick Bamford and the Argentine
gave debuts to youngsters Leo Hjelde and Lewis Bate plus a first start to Sam
Greenwood.
West Ham's Bowen fired in the game's first attempt in the
fifth minute but his low drive from 25 yards out flew a long way wide of the
target.
Five minutes later, Leeds failed to properly clear Declan
Rice's cross and Bowen would have converted on the follow-up but for Luke
Ayling clearing off the line.
More danger followed three minutes later as Michail Antonio
seized upon a loose ball on the edge of the box and the striker's vicious
whipped effort was deflected just over.
United's first shot at goal arrived in the 19th minute when
debutante Bate received the ball in space on the right flank and the midfielder
cut inside before sending in a curled attempt that was straight at keeper
Alphonse Areola.
Greenwood then blasted an attempt way over the bar from 20
yards out before another Whites debutante Hjelde survived an accidental
handball in the box when clearing a Hammers free kick.
But Leeds were giving it a good go and Mateusz Klich saw a
fierce drive blocked as the game reached the half hour mark.
Greenwood's clever flick from a Jack Harrison cross was then
easily gathered and less than one minute West Ham went ahead as Lanzini thumped
home a low finish from a scramble which resulted from Nikola Vlasic turning
Hjelde in the area before Hjelde produced a fine block.
Illan Meslier looked to gather the loose ball only for
Vlasic and then Bowen to get there first and whilst Bowen looked offside, the
goal was allowed to stand despite a long check from VAR.
The Hammers then went close to adding a second as Antonio
fired wide on the stretch to a Ben Johnson cross from the left and the Irons
squandered one final first-half chance deep in stoppage time as Meslier saved
from Ryan Fredericks who failed to connect properly to a Bowen cross from close
range.
Key Whites duo Raphinha and Stuart Dallas were brought on
during the interval as Bate and Greenwood made way but only a strong save by
Meslier denied the Hammers a second seven minutes after the restart as Antonio
shrugged off Llorente before setting up Bowen whose fierce low drive was saved
by Meslier's feet.
Rice then blazed a wild effort over the bar from the edge of
the area, shortly before Leeds made another change as Adam Forshaw replaced
Ayling which meant Dallas moving to right back.
United then lost the services of Junior Firpo who had taken
a knock on the head after colliding with Meslier at the end of the first half.
Firpo was still struggling and Cody Drameh was brought on in
his place in the 69th minute, after which Leeds squandered a glorious chance to
equalise three minutes later as Harrison sent a volleyed Klich cross wide from
close range.
Back came the Hammers and Rice curled another shot wide
before Leeds made another change as Crysencio Summerville replaced Hjelde with
12 minutes left.
The Irons were inches away from adding a second three
minutes later as Fredericks cut in before flashing a low effort just the wrong
side of the posts.
But Leeds squandered another golden opportunity to level in
the 88th minute when a firm low cross from Harrison fell to James only for the
ball to fly off the Wales international and wide.
