Leeds scrape past Palace

Crystal Palace 1, Leeds 2 (full-time)

Harry Kewell provided the touch of class which enabled Leeds to make the most of their good fortune and scrape past Crystal Palace into the sixth round of the FA Cup.

Palace had equalised Gary Kelly’s quickly-taken free-kick with a powerful volley by Julian Gray and should have gone ahead only for a strike by Tommy Black to be ruled out even though replays showed it had crossed the line.

The First Division side continued to threaten thereafter, only for Kewell to embark on a magnificent solo run with 18 minutes left to seal victory in the fifth round tie on Terry Venables’ return to Selhurst Park.

Despite Leeds’ struggle to impose themselves on the game, they still possessed that extra touch of class in the shape of Kewell.

With 18 minutes left, the Australian winger tore the remnants of the home side’s defence to pieces before slotting his shot past Berthelin.

Robinson needed to deny substitute Dougie Freedman, while Palace had five strikers on the pitch at the end, but Leeds still held on to give their season a much-needed dose of optimism.