Leeds Last Beat Manchester United in Shock FA Cup Upset
Leeds United’s most recent victory over Manchester United came in one of the FA Cup’s great modern surprises, a reminder of how fierce this rivalry can be despite the imbalance of recent years.
That win arrived on January 3, 2010, when Leeds stunned Old Trafford with a 1–0 success in the third round of the FA Cup, thanks to a first half strike from Jermaine Beckford that sent shockwaves through English football.
The goal proved decisive on a famous afternoon for the Yorkshire club, who were competing in League One at the time, two divisions below their Premier League hosts. A gulf of 42 league places separated the sides, yet Leeds matched United for intensity and belief from the opening whistle.
The context only adds to the scale of the upset. Manchester United were reigning Premier League champions and managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, while Leeds were still fighting to re establish themselves after years outside the top flight. Their return to the Premier League in 2020 briefly revived the rivalry, before another relegation in 2023. Now back again, meetings with United are once more a regular fixture.
Old Trafford provided a charged backdrop, with the home crowd expecting progression despite some rotation from Ferguson. Even so, United still named a strong side featuring Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Jonny Evans, Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney, underlining the scale of Leeds’ task.
Early on, Leeds showed they were not there to survive. Their pressing unsettled United’s rhythm, and their willingness to play forward passes kept the home defence alert, particularly down the channels.
The defining moment arrived in the 19th minute. Jonny Howson clipped a long ball over the top, Beckford timed his run perfectly, pulled away from Brown and calmly slotted past Tomasz Kuszczak to give Leeds a lead that stunned the stadium.
Manchester United pushed back with territory and possession, but clear chances were limited. Leeds defended with discipline, while Kasper Ankergren made key saves to preserve the advantage as frustration grew among the hosts.
After the break, United increased the tempo, introducing Ryan Giggs and Antonio Valencia to stretch the game. Leeds rode out sustained pressure, throwing bodies in the way of shots and slowing the game whenever possible.
Late moments were tense rather than dramatic, with United unable to find a breakthrough and Leeds clinging to their slender lead amid growing belief on the bench and in the away end.
The final whistle confirmed a historic result. It was Ferguson’s first ever third round FA Cup defeat and the first time during his reign that United were eliminated by lower league opposition.
More than a decade on, that afternoon remains Leeds’ last win over their old rivals. Manchester United have dominated the fixture in recent Premier League seasons, but with Leeds back in the top flight once again, the hope remains that another chapter of this rivalry can yet be written.