In a re-run of the 1973 Final when the then Second Division Black Cats upset the odds to defeat Don Revie’s legendary United side 1-0, it took just the solitary goal once again to separate the teams.
Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United
The FA Cup Third Round
Sunday 4 January 2014
Winning club receives £67,500
The Championship visitors made seven changes from Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Derby County. Boss Neil Redfearn handed first starts to Brian Montenegro, a Paraguayan striker who joined on-loan from Nacional Asuncion in the summer, and Dario Del Fabro, a Italian U19 international defender on-loan from Cagliari.
Although chances were few and far between in the opening spell, the hosts dominated possession and it was they who always looked most likely to open the scoring.
The warning signs were there for Leeds when Ricardo Alvarez’s drive was deflected onto the top of the bar and Steven Fletcher missed a glaring chance from eight yards when Van Aanholt found him unmarked with a cross from the left.
Not to be deterred, the Black Cats continued to purr and they were denied by a scrambled Casper Sloth clearance on the post six minutes later as Santiago Vergini met Jordi Gomez’s corner with a header.
Despite a large contingent of travelling fans backing them, Leeds were offering very little and it was no surprise when Sunderland’s persistence finally paid off - courtesy of Van Aanholt just after the half-hour mark.
The flying Dutchman, who had been a thorn in the visitor's side throughout, was fed the ball on the left of the area by Fletcher and his unstoppable first time left-footed strike with the outside of his boot whizzed inside the post.
Ricardo Alvarez in action against Leeds
Having taken the lead, Gus Poyet’s side saw out the remainder of the half with relative ease. He added Connor Wickham into his attack at the interval in place of Alvarez, but it was the West Yorkshire outfit who came out on the offensive – and they should have been level straight from the re-start.
Mirco Antenucci’s pass carved open the home defence to find Adryan with a clear sight of goal, but the Brazilian sent his drive straight into the legs of Costel Pantilimon.
The big shot-stopper came to his side’s rescue again moments later as he saved at his near post from Brian Montenegro’s fierce drive.
Claims of a penalty for the visitors were waved away by referee Mike Dean after Larsson had fouled Charlie Taylor on the edge of the area, but a free-kick was awarded. It was played to Rudolph Austin who blazed over from 18 yards.
Poyet was out on the edge of his area instructing his side as they attempted to weather the Leeds storm, and his men began to re-group as Giaccherini forced Silvestri into a save low to his right and Fletcher had an effort ruled out for offside.
The Scotsman thought he had his name on the score sheet on 69 minutes, but he was denied by Silvestri again from close-range - a brilliant outstretched save following good work by Wickham.
Striker Billy Sharp had been introduced from the bench by Redfearn, but still the momentum remained with the Premier League side as another chance fell Fletcher’s way. But he skewed a strike wide from ten yards.
But it did not prove costly as he and his team-mates held on to progress to the Fourth Round.
Sunderland (4-3-2-1): 1 Costel Pantilimon; 27 Santiago Vergini, 22 Sebastian Coates, 16 John O’Shea (C), 3 Patrick van Aanholt; 4 Liam Bridcutt, 8 Jack Rodwell, 14 Jordi Gomez; 20 Ricardo Alcarez, 23 Emanuele Giaccherini; 9 Steven Fletcher.
Subs: 7 Sebastian Larsson for Rodwell 37; 10 Connor Wickham for Alvarez 45; 11 Adam Johnson for Giaccherini 74.
Subs not used: 32 Maksymilian Stryjek, 30 Will Buckley, 31 Thomas Beadling, 34 Thomas Robson.
Goal: Van Aanholt 33
Leeds United (4-1-2-1-2): 1 Marco Silvestri; 12 Gaetano Berardi, 32 Liam Cooper (c), 35 Dario Del Fabro, 21 Charlie Taylor; 4 Rodolph Austin; 7 Luke Murphy, 33 Casper Sloth; 9 Adryan; 26 Brian Montenegro, 35 Dario Del Fabro.
Subs: 8 Billy Sharp for Adryan 62; 29 Souleymane Doukara for Montenegro 85.
Subs not used: 13 Stuart Taylor, 22 Zac Thompson, 24 Chris Dawson, 25 Ross Killock, 40 Kalvin Phillips.
Referee: Mr M Dean
Attendance: 30, 302
