Gillingham 1 Leeds 1
First Division Gillingham took full advantage of Leeds United's Australian international Mark Viduka being sent off today as they drew 1-1 to force an FA Cup fourth round replay.
Gillingham's Malian international striker Mamady Sidibe levelled the match two minutes after Viduka had been red-carded for elbowing player coach Andy Hessenthaler in the 80th minute.
Alan Smith had given Leeds the lead in the 49th minute with a great effort as the crisis-ridden Premiership outfit tried to make the last 16 for the first time in three seasons.
Smith took his goal brilliantly, curling the ball round the wall from a freekick to beat keeper Jason Brown in the 49th minute to give Leeds just the start to the second half they required.
Aussie star Harry Kewell put up a curate's egg of a performance, turning the defence brilliantly early in the second half but his low cross just evaded Viduka.
However a minute later Kewell should have put the tie beyond doubt when he outpaced his marker and one on one with the keeper he had all the time in the world but blasted his shot over the bar when a gentle chip would have sufficed - his grin of embarrassment said it all.
But that was nothing compared to the shame of Viduka as having just had an altercation with Hessenthaler he elbowed the diminutive Hessenthaler and referee Neil Barry had no hesitation but to yield the red card.
Leeds paid for his stupidity immediately as Sidibe struck from just inside the area after good work down the left flank by Paul Smith.
Gillingham had the better of a pretty mediocre first-half with Paul Smith's dipping effort providing some spark but Cameroon international Samuel Ipoua went closest when his shot on the turn came back off the post just before the break.
Leeds only threat came when Norway international Eirik Bakke went down in the penalty area as he tried to get to Smith's cross and claimed he had been pushed but received a shake of the head from the referee.
AFP