Leeds 1-0 Harrogate: Largie Ramazani scores only goal as Daniel Farke’s side secure victory in FA Cup third round tie

  • Largie Ramazani’s goal in the 59th minute saw Leeds beat Harrogate Town
  • A much-changed Leeds team should have been more ruthless in front of goal
  • Listen to It all starts! Why Manchester United may have to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho

Hereford, Histon, Rochdale, Sutton, Newport and Crawley. It is the lower league teams that have knocked Leeds out of the FA Cup this century, and for an hour on Saturday night at Elland Road, home fans feared that Harrogate were about to add their names to that list.

As it was, Largie Ramazani’s header saw the Championship leaders squeeze past the League Two strugglers. But this was a nervous night for Leeds in the first ever competitive meeting between the Yorkshire sides. Daniel Farke was relieved his club had avoided another embarrassment.

“The most important thing is to get through to the next round,” the Whites boss said.

‘It is never easy, because for some team members it is the match of their lives. They played an excellent match, but I’m happy that we managed to win again.’

Sarah Barry, chief executive of Harrogate, was asked this week whether the North Yorkshire spa town was ‘too posh for football’.

Well, Simon Weaver’s men have rejected such a suggestion by taking on a team 68 places above them in the football pyramid – even if they ultimately failed to give them a nosebleed.

Largie Ramazani scored the only goal as Leeds defeated Harrogate in the third round of the FA Cup

Ramazani found the net in the 59th minute of the Yorkshire match at Elland Road

Ramazani found the net in the 59th minute of the Yorkshire match at Elland Road

Harrogate's Toby SIms was left frustrated after his effort was kept out by Karl Darlow

Harrogate’s Toby SIms was left frustrated after his effort was kept out by Karl Darlow

“I’m extremely proud,” said City Manager Weaver. “This was a huge moment in our journey. It was a sink or swim moment in the players’ careers and they were swimming tonight. It was a great night for the club.”

Weaver thought Harrogate could have been awarded an early penalty when Josh March tumbled in the penalty area after tangling with Josuha Guilavogui, who was making his first start for Leeds.

However, that was the last time the visitors got anywhere near the home goal in a Whites-dominated first half, with Mateo Joseph hitting the woodwork from the edge of the penalty area just before half-time.

Harrogate, playing out only the second third round tie in their history, enjoyed the ball more early in the second half, with March drawing a first-time save from Karl Darlow.

But just as the underdogs’ confidence grew, Manor Solomon set the bar for Leeds with a curling effort.

Then, in the 59th minute, the Israeli winger raced past Dean Cornelius on the left before crossing to Ramazani, who was unmarked five yards away and nodded comfortably into the net to the roar of relief at Elland Road.

Leeds were denied a second when Harrogate goalkeeper James Belshaw blocked substitute Daniel James’ close-range shot with his legs.

It meant Town still had hope in the final stages, but Farke’s favorites held on to reach the fourth round.

Leeds' Josuha Guilavogui looks to retain possession under pressure from Jack Muldoon

Leeds’ Josuha Guilavogui looks to retain possession under pressure from Jack Muldoon

Leeds' Mateo Joseph goes for goal on Saturday evening during the third round of the FA Cup

Leeds’ Mateo Joseph goes for goal on Saturday evening during the third round of the FA Cup

Daniel Farke saw his Leeds side progress to the fourth round despite making eight changes

Daniel Farke saw his Leeds side progress to the fourth round despite making eight changes

CONTEST FACTS

Leeds: Darlow, Schmidt, Guilavogui, Struijk (Rodon 65), Byram (Firpo 77), Ampadu, Rothwell (Tanaka 65), Gnonto (Gruev 90), Solomon (James 78), Ramazani, Joseph

subtitles: Meslier, Aaronson, Bogle, Wober

Goal: Ramazani 59

Booked: Guilavogui, Ramazani

Harrogate: Belshaw, Sims (Asare 83), O’Connor, Moon, Burrell, Cornelius (Taylor 72), Sutton (Dooley 77), Morris, Daly (Duke-McKenna 83), Muldoon (Folarin 71), March

subtitles: Oxley, Bray, Daley, Salomon

Booked: Burrel, Morris