Leeds United 7 – Cardiff City 0 – HT 2-0
B. Aaronson (6′),
M. Solomon (13′),
D. James (50′),
J. Piroe (65′ pen, 90’+5),
W. Gnonto (67′),
Mateo Joseph (88′).
Assists –
D. James (6′, 13′),
J. Firpo (50′, 88′, 90’+5),
A. Tanaka (67)
Venue: Elland Road Attendance: 35,810
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League leaders Leeds United maintained their advantage at the top of the Championship as a dominant display earned them a stunning win over Cardiff City at Elland Road.
The hosts made a dream start with Dan James providing two assists inside 13 minutes as Brenden Aaronson and Manor Solomon both finished from close-range.
James got a deserved goal after converting Junior Firpo’s inviting cross and the Wales winger also won a penalty on 65 minutes, converted coolly by Joel Piroe.
Rampant Leeds scored a fifth when sub Wilfried Gnonto glided through the Cardiff defence and finished precisely from the edge of the penalty area and Mateo Joseph added a sixth after 88 minutes.
Cardiff’s humiliation was completed in the final minute of added time as former Swansea striker Piroe scored his second goal of the game to ensure their heaviest league defeat since 1966.
Both managers made two changes to their starting XIs as two of the form sides in the Championship met at a ground that has generally been a happy hunting spot for the Bluebirds.
Cardiff headed to Elland Road not only unbeaten in nine games, but having lost just one of their previous 13 away league games at Leeds, winning seven times.
However, Leeds, unbeaten in 11, are currently the team to beat in the second tier and they underlined that status by punishing the visiting Bluebirds from almost the first whistle with Wales winger James taking the role of chief tormentor.
He provided the opener as he raced clear and kept his composure after rounding the Cardiff goalkeeper, picking out a perfect pass for Aaronson to convert.
Leeds can be a force at Elland Road and defend a lead like no other side in the division and were soon 2-0 ahead as Piroe’s pass sent James clear and his excellent cross was converted at the back post by Tottenham loanee Soloman.
The hosts looked like they might score every time they attacked and Firpo dragged wide, Jak Alnwick saved from James and Piroe saw a 20-yard effort flash past the upright in a half that also saw a James effort ruled out for offside against Solomon.
Leeds were levels above Cardiff in a first half where the Bluebirds did not even get a sniff at goal with Illan Meslier a virtual spectator until the 44th minute when Anwar El Ghazi sent an apologetic effort his way from 25 yards.
Cardiff have showed renewed resilience in recent weeks and had been on their best run of the season, but were simply outclassed by Leeds in every regard as the hosts added a third on 50 minutes after Firpo’s brilliant cross was turned home by James following a fine passing move.
The Bluebirds were in damage limitation mode but went 4-0 down after Callum O’Dowda fouled former Swansea winger James and Piroe slotted home the penalty.
Gnonto then added a brilliant fifth as he sliced through Cardiff’s defence and fired the ball back across goal into the corner.
Cardiff keeper Alnwick made several saves, while Piroe and Largie Ramazani could also have added to the tally.
However, there was to be a sixth goal as Joseph finished from another brilliant Firpo cross, with Piroe adding to Cardiff’s torment with virtually the final kick of one of the most one-sided football matches of the season.
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What a performance by the team, making a huge advantage with the goal difference as well, which is starting to become like an extra point for us in the race to promoted.
We need to carry this on into the last 16 games of the season, as there is still only 5 point between the top 3 teams.
Marching On Together.
League position 1st after 30 games – After 30 games last season, Leeds were 2nd
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