Pride Park Stadium
Derby County bowed out of the Emirates FA Cup at the Third Round stage after a 3-1 defeat against Premier League side Leeds United at Pride Park Stadium.
Ben Brereton Díaz had given the Rams a first-half lead with his second strike in as many matches, after Jacob Widell Zetterstrom saved a Joel Piroe penalty moments before.
But second half strikes from Wilfried Gnonto and Ao Tanaka, supplemented by James Justin's goal in stoppage time, mounted a fightback to book Leeds' spot in the next round.
Ahead of kick-off, John Eustace made six changes to his side, including handing a start to Oscar Fraulo, the Danish midfielder’s first Derby appearance following his move from Borussia Mönchengladbach earlier this month.
It was the 22-year-old’s ingenuity which created the first chance of the contest, as Fraulo’s cute, dinked pass found Brereton Díaz. The Chilean international attempted to send the ball into the far corner but his volley looped into the gloves of Karl Darlow.
Some superb skill from Bobby Clark to nutmeg and draw a foul from Tanaka helped present the Rams’ next opportunity. Craig Forsyth’s whipped delivery found Danny Batth, rising highest, but the 35-year-old couldn’t quite direct his header on target.
Then came a sustained period of Leeds pressure. First, Lukas Nmecha’s neat feat created room on the edge of the box, although the German fired well over under duress from the Derby defence.
Piroe rattled the post from an acute angle minutes later, before Jack Harrison forced a low stop from Zetterstrom in the next attack. As the siege continued, Piroe found a pocket of space to play in Nmecha - who went down after rounding Zetterstrom, leading Anthony Taylor to point to the spot.
But the Swedish shot-stopper atoned instantly, diving to his right to deny Piroe and keep the scores level with ten minutes remaining until half-time.
It brought the momentum firmly back into Derby’s favour, so much so that the Rams were ahead within three minutes thanks to Brereton Díaz.
Forsyth’s clipped ball over the top picked out Corey Blackett-Taylor. The winger drove into the box and hit the deck under pressure. While his appeals for a penalty were waved away, the Leeds defence dawdled.
Brereton Díaz was on his toes, however, reacting quickest to the loose ball to curl low into the bottom right corner – notching his second goal in as many games to put the Rams in front at the break.
Leeds were level 10 minutes after the restart. A well worked equaliser saw Jaka Bijol guide the ball towards Piroe on the edge of the D. Intelligently, the Dutchman let it run for Gnonto, who fired a ferocious first-time effort into the roof of the net, leaving Zetterstrom with no chance.
Four minutes later, the Whites took the lead - Piroe again involved. His low strike was superbly saved by Zetterstrom but Tanaka reacted quickest to gobble up the rebound on the goal-line.
Batth again came close with his head as Derby pressed for parity, while a teasing cross from Harrison was met by Nmecha, only for Zetterstrom to beat away with authority again.
19-year-old Academy graduate Owen Eames came on for his professional debut midway through the second half, and almost released Brereton Díaz with one of his first involvements, but the teenager midfielder marginally overhit his pass to the Derby scorer.
The tie was still in the balance heading into the closing stages, as John Eustace also brought on Patrick Agyemang and the returning David Ozoh in search of the equaliser.
But Justin made sure of the result in stoppage time. Sean Longstaff released Nmecha on the break, curling with the outside of his right boot to the onrushing Leeds full-back, who steered home to add the visitors’ third.
Goals: Brereton Diaz 35', Gnonto 55', Tanaka 59’, Justin 90+3’.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Forsyth, Batth, Langås, Blackett-Taylor (Brewster 63), Salvesen (Agyemang 73), Ward, Brereton Díaz, Travis (C) (Ozoh 63), Fraulo (Adams 46), Clark (Eames 73).
Unused Substitutes: O’Donnell (GK), Weimann, Elder, Nelson.
Leeds United: Darlow (GK), Ampadu (C), Piroe (Stach 89), Nmecha, Bijol, Okafor (Aaronson 89), Harrison, Tanaka, Bournauw (Justin 46), Gnonto (Byram 86), Gruev (Longstaff 72).
Unused Substitutes: Perri (GK), Struijk, Calvert-Lewin, Chambers.
Derby return to Sky Bet Championship action on Saturday 17 January away at Preston North End (3pm kick-off).
