Fortuitous Leeds progress to last eight

Crystal Palace 1-2 Leeds United

Crystal Palace 1-2 Leeds United

Crystal Palace were left furious this afternoon after a controversial disallowed goal helped Leeds dump them out of FA Cup at Selhurst Park.

After Julian Gray swiftly cancelled out Leeds midfielder Gary Kelly's 33rd-minute opener, the First Division side were outraged when they looked clearly to have gone 2-1 up.

As a frantic first half drew to a close, Palace striker Tommy Black took advantage of a messy goal-line scramble to shoot fiercely from close range, and Leeds's Michael Duberry blocked the ball with his raised arms.

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Defender Danny Mills booted clear, but television replays seemed to show Black's shot had certainly crossed the line.

But to Palace's disbelief, referee Dermot Gallagher refused to award either a penalty or a goal, and the south Londoners - who conquered Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield in a fourth round replay - never recovered.

The match was eventually settled by a moment of genius from winger Harry Kewell, the goal-scoring hero of Australia's stunning 3-1 midweek win over England.

On 73 minutes there seemed nothing on for Kewell as he collected the ball on the left, just into the Palace half. But after skipping his way past two Palace defenders, he skimmed a rising shot past Cedric Berthelin.

After going 2-1 down, Palace fought desperately, but were unable to equalise.

Their best chance came with 10 minutes left, when substitute Dougie Freedman reached a cross from the right just yards from goal.

But in keeping with Palace's day, he scuffed the shot and Robinson saved easily.

To add to Palace fans' feelings of persecution in a match which they dominated for long periods, even Leeds's opening goal had been contentious.

Alan Smith was up-ended, and with Berthelin still arranging his wall, Leeds midfielder Gary Kelly struck a surprise free kick, looping it into the right side of the goal with the Palace keeper stranded.

The Palace players protested vigorously, but Gallagher insisted that Kelly had done nothing wrong.

The game will do nothing to ease Palace fans' vocal hatred of Leeds manager Terry Venables, who was greeted by a chorus of boos at Selhurst Park.

Venables, who managed the side in the late 1970s when they shot up from the old Third to First Divisions, is loathed for his part in the club's recent financial problems.

Fans blame a hugely lucrative contract when Venables came back for a second brief managerial spell during the 1998/99 season for helping plunge Palace deep into the red.

However a place in the FA Cup quarter finals will ease Venables's current woes, who has watched a string of key players including Jonathan Woodgate and Robbie Fowler sold in recent weeks to balance the books.