Sheffield Utd dump Leeds out FA

LONDON: Terry Venables’ nightmare season at Leeds got even worse yesterday when Division One Sheffield United completed a rare double by ousting his team from the FA Cup four months after knocking it out of the League Cup.

Steve Kabba’s goal 13 minutes from the end was the only goal of an untidy quarter-final game at Bramall Lane where the Blades had beaten Leeds 2-1 in early November in the third round of the League Cup. The shock result, which means struggling Leeds still have not reached the semi-final since 1987, was one of three quarter-final games being staged yesterday after Saturday’s 2-2 tie between defending champion Arsenal and last season’s runner up Chelsea at Highbury. Southampton managed to avoid an upset by winning Wolves 2-0 at St Mary’s while Watford beat Burnley 2-0 in a matchup that guaranteed another division one team made it to the semi-final.

The results mean that two Premier League teams will be in the semi-final and two from division one. At Bramall Lane, Leeds’ Harry Kewell had two great chances in the first half, breaking clear of the Blades defence only to have his first shot blocked by goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and blasting his follow up drive over the bar into the crowd. The Aussie star failed to appear in the second half because of a back strain and Leeds created few dangers to the Blades defence before the home team went ahead. Leeds failed to clear a Michael Brown cross and, after Michael Tonge’s shot had been blocked by Danny Mills, the ball rolled back to the unmarked Kabbe who fired home from 12 metres. Venables was expected to lead Leeds to trophies and a strong European campaign this season.

Instead his team have been knocked out of both domestic cups by a team from division one, didn’t make it past the third round of the UEFA Cup and have been sailing close to the relegation fight in the Premier League. The club lies 15th out of 20. At St Mary’s, an overhead kick by Chris Marsden put Saints ahead against one of his many former clubs in the 56th minute with the ball bobbing around the penalty area. Then Southampton striker James Beattie failed to connect with a rightwing cross only for the ball to strike Wolves defender Paul Butler and deflect inside the far post nine minutes from the end. Goals in the last 14 minutes by Tommy Smith and Stephen Glass put Watford into the semi-final for the first time in 16 years in a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Vicarage Road.