It ended up being a crucial and very unlucky miss
Championship leaders Leeds United faced off against the league’s ninth placed-side Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup on Sunday with Marcelo Bielsa’s side defeated 2-1: their third consecutive loss in all competitions.
QPR took the lead in the game through a Aramide Oteh penalty, two minutes before Aapo Halme equalised after Rs keeper Matt Ingram spilled a Lewis Baker free-kick straight into his path.
Jake Bidwell, the players fouled for his side’s penalty, eventually won the game for the home side with a header 15 minutes from the end, but things could have been much, much different had Leeds had a bit more look within the first 30 seconds of the game.
That is because shortly after kick-off Leeds striker Tyler Roberts gained control of the ball in his side’s first attack. Taking the ball down outside of the QPR box, the Welsh striker unleashed a crisp swerving shot with the outside of his right boot, only to see it crash against Ingram’s left-hand post.
Astonishingly, it then rolled across the goal line before hitting off the keeper’s right-hand post and bouncing out.
What was little more than a curious and funny moment at the time ended up being crucial for the match.
QPR now progress to the next round, and while Leeds are out of the FA Cup, there will likely be part of their support and staff relived that they now get to focus entirely on the Championship and, pertinently, avoiding a fourth defeat on the bounce against Derby on January 11.
😱| @LUFC manage to hit both posts! pic.twitter.com/wKG5O6cZLL
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 6, 2019
