By BBC
At a glance
– Leeds miss all three of their penalties in the shootout
– Owls fans urged to boycott game by Supporters’ Trust in protest against club owner.
– Jamal Lowe’s shot squirms in off Karl Darlow’s legs for opener
– Jayden Bogle equalises nine minutes before time
– Dominic Calvert-Lewin misses late chances on Leeds debut
TROUBLED Sheffield Wednesday stunned Leeds United on penalties to reach the third round of the Carabao Cup as the Premier League side missed all their spot-kicks to lose 3-0 in the shootout.
The Yorkshire derby was settled in dramatic fashion after substitute Jayden Bogle cancelled out an own goal from Leeds keeper Karl Darlow for the Owls opener.
Home supporters continued to show their discontent with owner Dejpon Chansiri as many boycotted Tuesday night’s game.
But they missed a gutsy display from Wednesday, who upset their higher-division opponents with goalkeeper Ethan Horvath the hero.
On his home debut, the American made a number of excellent stops in normal time, before saving two of Leeds’ three spot-kicks and debutant Dominic Calvert-Lewin sending his penalty high over the bar.
It was a welcome moment of joy for the Championship side, who have endured a turbulent summer in which former manager Danny Rohl left, while they started the season with a threadbare squad that included just 12 senior players.
It meant they fielded a youthful team against Leeds, with an average age of 21, including four 20-year-olds and five teenagers.
But in front of a crowd of 7,801, they played with a spirit and desire that saw them applauded off the pitch at half-time by the fans in attendance.
Henrik Pedersen’s side got the reward for their battling display when they took a 63rd-minute lead as Jamal Lowe’s shot squirmed in through Darlow’s legs.
But Leeds were level with nine minutes to go through their 21st attempt on goal when former Sheffield United full-back Bogle was played in by Wilfried Gnonto and slotted through Horvath’s legs.
Calvert-Lewin fired a big chance wide in stoppage time from close range, before he was then denied by a superb Horvath block.
The Owls keeper, signed as an emergency loan signing from Cardiff after an injury to Pierce Charles, then proved a rock once more in the shootout to send his side into the next round.
Analysis: Owls show fight as Calvert-Lewin frustrates
These may be tumultuous times for Wednesday, but their inexperienced side put in a remarkable effort to embarrass Daniel Farke’s side.
The club’s fans are eager for Thai businessman Dejpon to sell the club, which has failed to pay wages on time for a third successive month and has been hit with several sanctions from the EFL.
Because of the financial issues, the Owls are widely expected to struggle in the Championship this season, but this performance will give their supporters encouragement that the players available do have the fight to upset the odds.
That’s exactly what they showed against Leeds, who were promoted to the Premier League last season and stacked with summer signings, including centre-back Jaka Bijol, Lukas Nmecha, Sean Longstaff – who helped Newcastle win the EFL Cup last season – and Swiss forward Noah Okafor.
Pedersen’s side battled hard in defence, especially as they tired after taking the lead.
For Leeds it was a frustrating evening, and in particular for new signing Calvert-Lewin.
The former Everton striker has pedigree in this competition, having scored 12 goals in his previous 16 appearances, but endured a game to forget.
Calvert-Lewin should have scored the winner in stoppage time, but somehow shot wide with the goal gaping, and was then twice denied by Horvath.
To sum up a miserable night for him and Leeds at Hillsborough – a ground where they had not lost since 2017 – he launched his penalty high over the bar in the resulting shootout.
What’s next for these teams?
Sheffield Wednesday: The Owls will look to follow up this shock result with a first Championship win when they host Swansea on Saturday, 30 August (3 p.m. BST, 9 p.m. in Thailand ).
Leeds: The Whites face Newcastle at Elland Road in the Premier League on Saturday (5.30 p.m. BST, 11.30 p.m. in Thailand).
Sheff Wed show ‘togetherness’ amid protests at owner
The relationship between Sheffield Wednesday supporters and owner Dejpon Chansiri may be fractured, but for Owls boss Henrik Pedersen the “togetherness” of his young players was a source of pride as they produced a Carabao Cup upset against Leeds on Tuesday.
Wednesday fans have been showing their discontent with the Thai businessman following a summer of turmoil during which the club has failed to pay wages on time for a third successive month, and been hit with sanctions from the EFL.
There were visible protests against Chansiri during Wednesday’s Championship opener against Leicester, and that continued for the Leeds match as thousands of supporters opted to boycott the game.
Instead, many chose to follow the action at watch-a-longs at pubs and clubs, and they were treated to a display full of guts and desire by a youthful Wednesday side.
The Owls’ difficult summer meant they started the season with just 12 senior players, and against Leeds they fielded a side featuring four 20-year-olds and five teenagers and an average age of 21.
But there were no signs of a gulf in class between them and their Premier League opponents as Sheffield Wednesday won 3-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
“Really, really proud,” Pedersen told Sky Sports after the match. “How they stayed together, I’m just proud.
“They stepped up so much in a game like this, nobody could see that, so big respect to our boys.”
For ex-England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, covering the game for BBC Radio 5 live, the sense of togetherness extended to the supporters as well.
“There’s an incredible story going on at the club at the moment,” he said.
“A lot of supporters decided not to come to the stadium but actually stood in solidarity with the ones who did.
“They finally took a stand and didn’t want the owner, and club to be run the way it was.
“The supporters are standing together, the players are standing together and that performance tonight was the epitome of togetherness.
Why are Sheffield Wednesday fans protesting?
Owls fans are hoping for Dejpon to sell the club, but there is a fear among supporters that may not happen anytime soon.
Consequently they have taken to making visible and vocal protests against the ownership.
In their opening Championship game against Leicester, a banner declaring ‘Enough is Enough’ was displayed, while two weeks ago fans held a mock funeral procession with a coffin that they said symbolised “the death of the football club”.
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust urged fans on their website, external to boycott the match and instead donate the ticket money to Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity.
“I cannot imagine many Sheffield Wednesday against Leeds games which have ever been played in a Hillsborough stadium like this,” BBC Radio 5 live commentator Alistair Bruce-Ball, covering the game at Hillsborough, said before kick-off.
“The protest being made this evening was by not coming to this game.
“I’m pretty sure the Leeds fans, about 3,000 of them, may well outnumber the home support.
“The North stand [was] closed tonight, as is the East stand. The only place you will find the home fans is in the lower tier of the south stand.”
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter Rob Staton said a lot of fans have been “torn” on the protest.
“If fans don’t come to this, they can’t go to the away games, and it’s at the away games where the bigger protests are happening,” he added.
“A lot of people have bought tickets for this game that don’t even come as they just want the points for the away games.”
CAPTIONS:
Top: Sheffield Wednesday beat Leeds 3-0 in the penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw. Photo: AFP via Getty Images and published by BBC
Front Page: Sheffield Wednesday scored all their penalties against Leeds. Photo: PA and published by BBC
First insert: Sheffield Wednesday boss Hendrik Pedersen during the Carabao Cup fixture against Leeds. Photo: Sky Sports
Second insert: There were thousands of empty seats at Hillsborough for the Carabao Cup second-round match between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds. Photo: AFP via Getty Images and published by BBC
Third insert: Sheffield Wednesday supporters protested against owner Dejpon Chansiri during their opening Championship match against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium amid the club’s financial crisis. Photo: Getty Images and published by BBC
Fourth insert: Sheffield Wednesday have faced a multitude of problems due to their financial crisis. Photo: Getty Images and published by BBC
Also read:
Owls tipped as first Championship side to be relegated
Dejpon scrambles to sell the Owls as new Championship season looms
Owls fans hold funeral protest at ‘death of club’
Young Owls dump Bolton Wanderers out of Carabao Cup
