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Reuters
Reuters
Sport
Martyn Herman

Newport provide Cup heroics to beat Leeds, West Ham held

Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Newport County AFC vs Leeds United - Rodney Parade, Newport, Britain - January 7, 2018 Leeds United's Andy Lonergan makes a save REUTERS/Rebecca Naden

LONDON (Reuters) - Newport County provided the weekend's second sizeable FA Cup shock as the Welsh club knocked out former winners Leeds United in the third round with a last-gasp 2-1 victory on Sunday.

The fourth-tier outfit bridged a 53-place gap in the standings as substitute Shawn McCoulsky, the day after his 21st birthday, condemned the Championship side to a humbling defeat with a powerful 89th-minute header.

Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Newport County AFC vs Leeds United - Rodney Parade, Newport, Britain - January 7, 2018 Newport County's Scot Bennett shoots at goal REUTERS/Rebecca Naden

On Saturday 1987 winners Coventry City, who are now languishing in the fourth tier, knocked out Premier League strugglers Stoke City by the same score -- a result that cost Stoke boss Mark Hughes his job.

Top flight West Ham United also flirted with danger at League One (third-tier) high-flyers Shrewsbury Town on Sunday, escaping with a 0-0 draw after being largely outplayed.

Eight-times winners Tottenham Hotspur were in action at home against third-tier AFC Wimbledon and holders Arsenal were at Nottingham Forest later on Sunday.

Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Newport County AFC vs Leeds United - Rodney Parade, Newport, Britain - January 7, 2018 Leeds United's Hadi Sacko fouls Newport County's Dan Butler REUTERS/Rebecca Naden

For old-fashioned Cup magic the place to be was Rodney Parade in south Wales where Newport became the latest underdogs to embarrass once mighty Leeds -- sparking a joyful pitch invasion by the home faithful.

Gaetano Berardi's deflected ninth-minute strike had looked like winning the tie for Leeds, who were knocked out by minor league Sutton United last season, but Conor Shaughnessy's own goal 15 minutes from fulltime set up a thrilling climax.

McCoulsky ensured it was one of the best days in modest Newport's history with an unstoppable header.

Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Shrewsbury Town vs West Ham United - Montgomery Waters, Shrewsbury, Britain - January 7, 2018 West Ham United's Declan Rice in action with Shrewsbury Town’s Arthur Gnahoua REUTERS/Andrew Yates

"I can't remember most of it, it was a blur to be honest. It is definitely one of my best goals, to knock Leeds out of the FA Cup is what dreams are made of," he said.

It is not the first time Leeds have suffered a Cup shock across the other side of the Severn Bridge -- having fallen to Cardiff, also 53 places lower than them when they were a Premier League side, in 2002.

To complete a dismal day for Leeds they had substitute Samuel Saiz sent off in stoppage time.

Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Shrewsbury Town vs West Ham United - Montgomery Waters, Shrewsbury, Britain - January 7, 2018 West Ham United's Joe Hart gestures at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Shrewsbury Town vs West Ham United - Montgomery Waters, Shrewsbury, Britain - January 7, 2018 Shrewsbury Town’s Arthur Gnahoua in action with West Ham United's Pedro Obiang REUTERS/Andrew Yates
Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Newport County AFC vs Leeds United - Rodney Parade, Newport, Britain - January 7, 2018 Newport County's Joss Labadie and Mickey Demetriou celebrate after the match REUTERS/Rebecca Naden
Soccer Football - FA Cup Third Round - Newport County AFC vs Leeds United - Rodney Parade, Newport, Britain - January 7, 2018 Newport County manager Mike Flynn celebrates REUTERS/Rebecca Naden
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