The FA Cup is home to an upset, a giant killing, something out the blue.
Cambridge United themselves entertained, arguably the biggest side in the country 2 years ago in Manchester United and got a draw in the home leg. Leeds, whilst not as big, were still a scalp for the Amber Army to go after. The buzz around the ground, the noise from the Newmarket Round End, a packed out Cambs Glass Stadium gave this cold Monday evening a special feeling. If Leeds were the favorites, well no one had told Cambridge because they did not play like a side 2 leagues below their Championship opposition.
Cambridge United played a strong team, the likes of Luke Berry and crowd favorite Uche Ikpeazu started whilst Leeds rolled out the changes, however a side with considerable experience was still out there, it was no easy task ahead. With the NRE chanting and banging, it almost felt like the perfect storm out there. Cambridge flew out the gates, there was no fear in the team, the pressure, closing everyone down and covering every blade of grass. Cambridge looked the better early doors however the threat still loomed over them as a break from nothing and Leeds’ forward put a cross-cum-shot in which clipped Will Norris’ bar. Cambridge didn’t let that get to them however, they continued to go forward, challenge Leeds, and Leeds started throwing in some rash challenges themselves.
A freekick in Berry territory, it didn’t go as Berry expected but that didn’t matter, the ball fell on the edge of the box to Uche Ikpeazu who used his strength brilliantly, turned his man and hammered a shot into the net off the near post (25 mintues). Everyone was bought to their feet and it was a wonderful goal, the Leeds fan fell into silence and the NRE and the Habbin both reveled in this. Last time Leeds United were in these parts they were on the wrong end of a 1-0 defeat to Histon, these fans have had bad experiences before here.
As the half closed out it felt like Cambridge were still the most likely to score, the stats said differently but Cambridge were breaking and pressing Leeds, if they could keep this up there was surely another goal in this. Before the half ended Leeds started to show some quality. Will Norris was called into action twice in quick succession, firstly, Alex Mowatt who was playing the number ten role and had looked very neat on the ball found himself in some space. A shot from range was dipping in, and over Norris but he made an athlete dive backwards to force the effort over the ball. From the resulting corner Leeds’ captain for the night Cooper won a head and Norris used his legs to good effect and with the help of his back line got the ball safely away.
Leeds made one change at the break, bringing off Berardi for Coyle, a switch of right backs didn’t seem like a game changer but whatever Monk said at half time was one. Leeds came out in the second half and early doors took the wind out of Cambridge. The pressing that was so effective first half was now just chasing the ball. Leeds weren’t an immediate danger but their passing and movement of the ball was becoming an issue for Cambridge. Cambridge however almost double their lead, a corner was whipped in and after some ping pong around the area came out to the edge and was hooked back in, nearly over the Leeds’ keeper, who used some quick thinking to get back and tip it over.
In the 56th minute Leeds finally got that chance. A break down the left wing left Cambridge exposed, a cross deep to the back post was met well by Dallas who got well above the Cambridge man and the Leeds striker made sure of it (56 minutes). It was unfortunate for Cambridge however they have had a weakness from balls into the box this year and Leeds picked that out. It was little under 10 minutes later when Leeds managed to complete the turn around, once again the goal coming from a ball into the box.
Leeds whipped in a corner and Jannson got up well to head it, the danger man Alex Mowatt was infront of the line and got a flick on it to put it over the line (63 minutes). It was two scrappy goals for Cambridge to concede and the worry for Derry would be these were goals any team could score against them, it wasn’t due to a higher quality of opponent it was due to mistakes from set pieces and crossing.
As the game progressed it became more and more scrappy, we saw Leon Legge join a 3 man front line with Uche and Williamson. Uche came close from a corner late in the game, breaking from his maker to get a clear header, unfortunately he didn’t get a strong enough connection. Uche was the man of the match and he worked for it, the big man won the ball, and worked hard and chased everything and won the affection of everyone in the Cambridge end and half of twitter by the end of the night.
There will be more days for Cambridge and more chances to upset big teams, but the cup exit gives Cambridge a chance to focus on the league in which they’re doing well. Plays offs have to be the aim and if you ask around the Cambs Glass, they’ll tell you it’s not far off.
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Published by Matthew Robinson
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