During the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final, Leeds continued their path to a speedy reentry into the Premier League after defeating Norwich in a grand 4-0 victory. Norwich had struggled previously, only managing one victory in their preceding six matches, but they failed to rediscover their form against a rejuvenated Leeds team. Leeds’ first-half triumph was highlighted by goals from Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter, placing them in a strong position moving into the second half, where Crysencio Summerville added a fourth goal.
Leeds did not secure automatic promotion due to a disappointing performance towards season end. However, they now have the opportunity to redeem themselves against either Southampton or West Brom in the much-anticipated Wembley final, taking place on the 26th of May.
Leeds fans stood united, waving scarves and radiating support for their beloved team. Their efforts seemed to inspire as Leeds started the match fiercely. Following a missed early attempt by Summerville, Gruev responded by cleverly exploiting Norwich goalie, Angus Gunn’s ill-placement, scoring a splendid goal during the seventh minute of the game.
The raucous support from the fans overwhelmed Leeds, encouraging them to double their lead by the 20th minute. Willy Gnonto facilitated the goal, his cross finding Piroe who landed his 16th goal of the season. Norwich had a fleeting opportunity to regain some control only two minutes later, however, their striker Josh Sargent’s finish was expertly deflected by Illan Meslier.
After their initial reprieve, Leeds displayed remarkable tenacity. Piroe found himself free, sprinting down the left wing with vigour. Even though Summerville faltered before he could reach the ball, it deflected towards Rutter who unleashed a ferocious shot, which found the upper part of the net. Rutter almost secured a second goal, however, Dimitrios Giannoulis intervened with a critical goal-line block during the first half’s additional time. Norwich, three goals down, were more than grateful for the halftime break.
When the second half kicked off, Leeds nearly extended their lead to 4-0, but Piroe’s immediate shot hit goalkeeper Gunn directly. Gunn continued to display deftness by blocking subsequent attempts from both Summerville and Piroe.
Despite being in the lead, Leeds kept up their unyielding pressure, and it paid off. They added a fourth to their tally, thanks to Summerville’s sharp low-end goal aided by Junior Firpo’s assist. This came after Gunn deflected Gnonto’s shot.
Rutter exited the stage to rounds of applause in the 74th minute, Connor Roberts taking his place on the field. For Norwich, who managed just a single shot on target, it was an evening to erase from memory.