Leeds United’s lukewarm start to the season dipped in temperature after Middlesbrough thrashed them 3-0 in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Anfernee Dijksteel broke the deadlock early in the second half with a left-footed finish into the bottom corner after cutting in from the right wing, with Josh Coburn then setting Delano Burgzorg clear on the hour mark to make it 2-0. Coburn rounded off an excellent display by tapping home the third for Michael Carrick’s side midway through the second half.
Leeds, who lost out in the Championship playoff final to Southampton in May, began the season with a 3-3 draw at home to Portsmouth and had fans streaming for the exit as this League Cup tie played out. Carrick’s side scored three times in 18 second-half minutes to reach the second round at the expense of their Championship rivals.
Chances came at both ends in the first five minutes as the Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn blocked from Junior Firpo before Karl Darlow denied Burgzorg from a tighter angle. Aidan Morris shot from the edge of the area but Darlow got down to smother and Coburn turned before shooting into the side-netting.
The second half was just under five minutes old when Dijksteel was allowed to cut in from the right and curl a low left-footed shot into the far corner. Leeds were rattled and when Dijksteel laid the ball back Burgzorg’s shot was straight at Darlow.
Middlesbrough scored a deserved second as Coburn’s defence-splitting pass sent Burgzorg clear and he cut inside Joe Rodon before firing past Darlow on the hour. Despite five home substitutions shortly after the goal, Isaiah Jones’s deflected shot fell to Coburn who took a simple chance with 23 minutes remaining. Georginio Rutter’s shot hit a post and Joël Piroe headed the rebound wide as Leeds failed to find any late consolation.
Charlie McNeill scored twice on his debut as Sheffield Wednesday ran out 2-1 winners at Hull, all three goals coming inside a frantic opening 10 minutes.
McNeill opened the scoring with just seconds on the clock with a right-footed shot which flew in off the bar and, after Marvin Mehlem equalised for the home side, the 20-year-old took advantage of a blunder from the goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi seconds later to slide the ball into an empty net.
In the draw for the second round, Newcastle will travel to Nottingham Forest in an all-Premier League tie while Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth visit Watford.
