Willy Gunto and Patrick Bamford both hit twice leeds united patted cardiff city 5-2 in their FA Cup Third round replay at Elland Road.
Gonto got Leeds off to a flying start with a superb volley inside the opening minute and scored his second after Rodrygo had put his side 3–0 up before the interval for his 11th goal of the season.
Substitute Patrick Bamford netted a second-half double, before Callum Robinson scored two late consolations for Cardiff, the second a penalty, as Leeds reached the fourth round of the competition for the first time in six years.
Leeds scored five goals for the first time since beating West Brom 5-0 in December 2020 and will now face an away tie at Accrington or Boreham Wood.
A stoppage-time equalizer from Leeds teenager Sonny Perkins saved a replay at the Cardiff City Stadium 10 days ago, but the managerless Sky Bet Championship strugglers were put to the sword just before half-time.
Cardiff sacked Mark Hudson after a 1-1 home draw against Wigan on Saturday, extending their winless run to nine games in all competitions, but for interim boss Dean Whitehead in his first game in charge It was a night to forget.
Rodrigo fired an inch-perfect ball into the penalty area, which was cleared by Cardiff defender Tom Sang, and Gonto kicked his volley into the roof of the net after only 28 seconds.
Gnoto was denied by a superb save from Cardiff goalkeeper Jake Alnwick, but Leeds effectively killed off the tie with two goals to go into a 3–0 lead before half-time.
In the 34th minute, Rodrigo got a low finish for his 11th goal of the season after latching on to Jack Harrison’s excellent pass, and Gonto scored his second of the night after a sharp counter-attack.
Cardiff thought they had pulled one back before the break when captain Curtis Nelson headed in Sheye Ojo’s corner.
But after VAR intervention, referee Thomas Bramall disallowed it as Andy Rinomota was offside.
Leeds picked up where they had left off after the restart and chased down a hat-trick with Gonto firing into the side-netting.
Alnwick kept out substitute Joe Gelhart’s stinging drive, but two more half-time substitutions combined to put Leeds 4–0 ahead in the 71st minute as Bamford ran onto Luke Ayling’s pass and netted a neat finish. Of.
Bamford scored his second five minutes later to make it 5–0, finishing effortlessly with the outside of his left boot after being set up by Gelhard.
Cardiff’s substitute Robinson cut short the brilliance of Leeds’ night by heading home Ojo’s cross and converting a stoppage-time penalty after VAR adjudged Mark Roca.