REPORT | ARGYLE 1 LEEDS UNITED 4
Argyle 1
Galloway 79
Leeds United 4
Gnonto 66
Summerville 96
Rutter 111
Gruev 117
Extra-time proved the undoing of Argyle in a 4-1 home defeat to Leeds United in the FA Cup replay at Home Park.
A fascinating game offered few chances until Wilfried Gnonto guided the visitors into a second-half lead but the Greens fought back with a set-piece goal from Brendan Galloway.
The additional 30 minutes arrived in sodden conditions and Leeds marched on with goals from Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Ilia Gruev.
Argyle Head Coach Ian Foster made four changes from the superb weekend win at Swansea City, Joe Edwards, Callum Wright, Adam Randell and Matty Sorinola coming in for Mickel Miller, Darko Gyabi, Adam Forshaw and Alfie Devine.
The Leeds sandwich game before the replay was a 1-0 win at Bristol City, Gonto scoring the only goal in their February Westcountry tour, which includes a return to Home Park in 11 days.
Argyle opened with wicked crosses from Ryan Hardie and Sorinola asking polite questions of the Leeds defence before a speculative effort from captain Edwards, operating in midfield, drifted wide.
The visitors replied with a lovely twist and turn from Mateo Joseph, who then thundered a strike against the woodwork. Leeds then tested the crossbar a little further with a drive from Joel Piroe that cannoned back off the bar, via a slight deflection from Galloway adding vital protection to goalkeeper Conor Hazard.
As the wind and rain cranked up in front of the BBC cameras, a terrific low cross from Hardie was aimed at Wright in the six-yard box but Sam Byram was in the right place for a crucial clearance. Gnonto replied with a swinging cross, judged nicely by Hazard in letting it run through.
A lovely combination down the right, involving Randell and Bali Mumba, led to a low cross that fell for Sorinola, who was thwarted by a desperate block from Joe Rodon. Scoreline blank at half-time and both sides still in the mix for a fifth-round trip to either Chelsea or Aston Villa.
The game restarted with two top blocks from the Pilgrim defence, quickly followed by a solid save from Hazard to palm clear a rising Piroe drive. Leeds continued their menace with a Junior Firpo effort repelled by the well-positioned Ashley Phillips. Joseph then scuttled a low drive wide, under pressure from Lewis Gibson.
Leeds eventually found the breakthrough on 66 minutes, Gnonto receiving a pass from Byram on the edge of the box and slapping a fine finish into the bottom corner. It was a slick goal from the visitors and one that was probably coming after the half-time break.
Freddie Issaka for Wright was the first Pilgrim change and the youngster took little time to surge into the box, eventually blocked by a scruffy challenge from Byram, although no question of a penalty. Caleb Roberts for Sorinola was the next switch.
Seconds later, Argyle were level.
A deep free-kick from Morgan Whittaker picked out Phillips peeling off at the back post and his volleyed square pass was beautifully measured for Galloway to chest into an empty net, with Leeds stopper Ilan Meslier stranded.
Leeds introduced the impressive firepower of Rutter and Patrick Bamford in response to the equaliser but it was a game heading to extra time and possibly the ominous spectre of penalties.
Caleb Roberts, who enjoyed a fabulous coming-of-age-display in the first game at Elland Road, replaced Sorinola for the closing minutes of normal time, as the rain jagged up a few notches.
Substitute Joe Gelhardt thundered a half-volley against the post before Hardie forced a low save from Meslier in the final act of a two-part drama that was due for a soggy conclusion.
Extra time opened with a spell of Leeds pressure and they grabbed the initiative with a goal from Summerville, curling the ball past Hazard from the left flank. It was harsh on the weary Pilgrims, who saw Whittaker just miss his radar from distance.
Sadly, the second period of extra time fell away from the Greens, as goals from Rutter and Gruev confirmed progress for Leeds.
Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard; 2 Bali Mumba, 8 Joe Edwards (capt) (23 Ben Waine 105), 9 Ryan Hardie, 10 Morgan Whittaker (capt), 11 Callum Wright (35 Freddie Issaka 72), 17 Lewis Gibson, 20 Adam Randell, 22 Brendan Galloway (6 Dan Scarr 105), 26 Ashley Phillips (37 Jack Matthews 117), 29 Matty Sorinola (34 Caleb Roberts 78). Substitutes (not used): 25 Callum Burton (gk).
Booked: Wright 58, Phillips 80, Galloway 105
Leeds United: 1 Ilan Meslier; 3 Junior Firpo, 6 Liam Cooper (capt), 7 Joel Piroe, 8 Glen Kamara (22 Archie Gray 71), 12 Jaidon Anthony (24 Georginio Rutter 82), 14 Joe Rodon, 25 Sam Byram (10 Crysencio Summerville 90+2), 29 Willy Gnonto (30 Joe Gelhardt 71), 44 Ilia Gruev, 49 Mateo Joseph (9 Patrick Bamford 82). Substitutes (not used): 13 Kristoffer Klaesson (gk), 40 Dani van den Heuvel (gk), 4 Ethan Ampadu, 5 Charlie Cresswell.
Booked: Rodon 70
Referee: Robert Jones
Attendance: 16,636 (1,920 away)