A round-up of what the national media are reporting after Leeds United’s 2-2 draw at the Cardiff City Stadium.
'Got away with one'
"Jesse Marsch is known for his wild emotions but his gloomy facial expression barely changed as Leeds scored a last-minute equaliser," Lewis Steele reported in the Daily Mail. "After the match, the American admitted he was lost for words. He knows he got away with one here.
"And it says a lot about their recent history in this competition that Leeds have progressed past the third round just four times in the life of Sonny Perkins, the 18-year-old hero who scored a 93rd-minute leveller to force a replay.
Read more: Sonny Perkins announces himself to save Leeds United as Max Wober makes impression
"'Leeds are falling apart again,' sang the home crowd as 10-man Cardiff entered stoppage time on the brink of a famous upset. Leeds had lost at this stage in five consecutive years, with their list of slayers reading: Newport, QPR, Arsenal, Crawley and West Ham.
"On another day, Cardiff would have added to that rap sheet and won this clash, dubbed as a rematch of the so-called 'Battle of Ninian Park' in 2002, where the third-tier Bluebirds shocked Premier League leaders Leeds in an ill-tempered affair on and off the pitch."
'On borrowed time'
"The Whites manager looked as though he was on borrowed time when Rodrigo’s limp penalty was heroically saved by Jak Alnwick on 80 minutes to leave them trailing 2-1," Isabelle Barker wrote in The Sun.
"Afterall the under-fire Leeds boss has only just two wins in his last 15 and to make matters worse Cardiff were without a victory in seven. The Bluebirds hadn’t even scored a goal since December 17 until Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojo’s first-half strikes.
"But the comeback was on for Leeds when Rodrigo pulled one back after the break before his missed penalty. And Perkins was there to pick up the pieces with the precious leveller on 93 minutes. The visitors were victims of their wasteful finishing in the early stages."
'Soothed the pain somewhat'
Ben Fisher of the Guardian wrote: "Just as it seemed Leeds United were staring at another early FA Cup exit to file with the rest of them, the teenage substitute Sonny Perkins struck in the third of five minutes of second-half stoppage time to earn a replay against 10-man Cardiff City.
"Leeds’s recent history in this competition is ignominious at best – they have gone out at this stage in each of the five previous seasons – and at half-time they trailed to goals by Jaden Philogene and Sheyi Ojo.
"Another substitute, Rodrigo, headed in within five minutes of entering and then had a penalty saved before Perkins, on his second senior appearance, soothed the pain somewhat by registering his first professional goal.
"By the end Jesse Marsch was moonlighting as a ball boy, hurtling after the ball after Perkins’s equaliser in an attempt to restart play and snatch victory.
"But more than 6,000 Leeds supporters – many of whom flew a few rows forward from their seats courtesy of the wild celebrations – had to settle for a replay."
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