Leeds United 0-2 Millwall: Azeez scores two — Mail 8/2/25

Leeds United 0-2 Millwall: Femi Azeez scores two goals and Liam Roberts saves a Pascal Struijk penalty as the Lions reach round of 16 in FA Cup

Femi Azeez scored the second and third goals of his Millwall career on Saturday

A 2-0 win over Leeds at Elland Road saw Millwall reach the FA Cup fifth round

By DAVID COVERDALE

Few teams have been able to touch Leeds United this season. Millwall, however, are proving quite the irritant for Daniel Farke's side.

The Lions inflicted one of only three Championship defeats on the division's top team at the Den back in November. And here at Elland Road, they again stunned a much-changed Whites to progress to the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in six years.

It was Leeds' first loss at their home fortress since September and first defeat anywhere in 15 games. And while their eyes are very much on the bigger prize of promotion to the Premier League, this result still left them deflated and gave them reason to fear the repeat of this fixture in the league next month.

Femi Azeez and Liam Roberts were the heroes for Millwall – the former scoring a goal in each half and the latter brilliantly saving a Pascal Struijk penalty and a string of other shots.

‘Leeds is the hardest ground in the Championship to come and get a result,’ said Millwall boss Alex Neil, whose team have now won four straight games. ‘The players were excellent.’

A Championship play-off place remains Millwall's top target, they can now also dream of a deep run in a competition they memorably reached the final of 21 years ago.

This fourth-round tie was actually the first-ever meeting between the teams in the FA Cup and, despite not being televised, it was switched to an early kick-off on the orders of police.

On the pitch, the Whites – who had made 10 changes from their midweek win at Coventry - dominated the early proceedings with 17-year-old Sam Chambers particularly impressing on his first start for his hometown team.

Chambers had the game's first chance, chesting down a clearance from a free-kick and volleying over, before setting up Willy Gnonto for a shot which drew a save out of Roberts.

It was the visitors, though, who went ahead against the run of play after half-an-hour.

Sloppy play from Gnonto and Isaac Schmidt allowed Azeez to steal the ball on the left wing. And the Millwall winger – making his return from injury – cut inside on his right foot and let fly, with his strike taking a wicked deflection off Josuha Guilavogui to leave Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow helpless.

The Lions really should have doubled their advantage moments later when Azeez crashed the bar from outside the box and the rebound fell to the unmarked Luke Cundle, who headed wide from five yards.

And they were almost made to pay when Chambers went through at the other end for the hosts, but his shot was too close to Roberts.

The Millwall keeper was called into action again early in the second half, when he beat away a fierce strike from Largie Ramazani.

But in the 55th-minute the Lions extended their lead after Leeds lost the ball again in midfield, Casper De Norre played in Azeez and he raced forward before unleashing a left-footed shot inside Darlow's near post.

Leeds were gifted the chance to pull a goal back when Gnonto was brought down by Cundle in the box. But defender Pascal Struijk's penalty was tipped on to the post by the fingertips of Roberts.

Farke brought three of his big guns off the bench with 20 minutes to go to try and inspire a comeback.

But Ao Tanaka, Manor Solomon and Joel Piroe were unable to revive the hosts, who must now regroup for Tuesday's trip to Watford in their continued push for promotion.

Farke defended making 10 changes to his team as he prioritises Leeds’ promotion push. ‘To rotate during this busy period is necessary,’ he said. ‘We are disappointed with the outcome but we had to take the risk. I have no complaints or moans about our performance.’