Leeds United surged into the Championship play-off final with a dominant 4-0 victory over Norwich City in the semi-final second leg on Thursday. Daniel Farke's team delivered a first-half masterclass at Elland Road, with goals from Ilia Gruev, Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter, and Crysencio Summerville.
Leeds, who will face either Southampton or West Bromwich Albion in the final at Wembley on May 26, showcased their superiority from the outset. Southampton and West Brom play their semi-final second leg on Friday, having drawn 0-0 in the first leg.
After a goalless draw in the first leg at Carrow Road, Leeds, who finished third in the league and 17 points ahead of sixth-placed Norwich, asserted their dominance early. Gruev opened the scoring in the 7th minute with a clever free-kick that caught Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn off guard. Piroe then doubled the lead in the 20th minute, heading in from Wilfried Gnonto's cross after a Gunn error.
Norwich's Josh Sargent missed a crucial chance, and Leeds capitalized further with Rutter scoring just before halftime. Summerville added the fourth goal in the 68th minute, cementing Leeds' comprehensive victory.
Leeds captain Daniel Farke praised his team's performance, emphasizing the youthfulness of the squad and their composed display. Norwich manager David Wagner expressed his disappointment, acknowledging his team's mistakes and the tough end to their season.
This win brings Leeds closer to returning to the Premier League after their relegation last season. Despite missing automatic promotion, Leeds now have the opportunity to achieve promotion through the play-offs for the first time in their history. The support from a capacity crowd of 37,800 at Elland Road was instrumental in their emphatic win, as they now look forward to the final challenge at Wembley.
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