Kewell storms Palace

Black's shot crosses the line but the goal is not given

Crystal Palace 1-2 Leeds United

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Harry Kewell left Crystal Palace feeling robbed by firing Leeds United into the FA Cup quarter-finals in a controversial clash at Selhurst Park.

Kewell - who tormented England in Australia's victory at Upton Park - completed the perfect week with a spectacular winner to sink Palace.

But Palace will rightly point to an incident late in the first half when Tommy Black's close range shot was cleared from well behind the line by Leeds defender Michael Duberry.

Palace should have had a goal -maybe my luck's turning

Leeds manager Terry Venables

It would have given Palace a vital lead after Julian Gray equalised Gary Kelly's opener - but referee Dermot Gallagher waved play on and Leeds grabbed victory at the lifeline to win a tempestuous fifth round tie.

Selhurst Park action in pictures

It was also a sweet victory for Leeds boss Terry Venables, who was given a hostile reception on his return to his former club.

Defender Kelly gave Leeds the lead after 32 minutes when he surprised Cedric Berthelin with a quickly-taken free-kick from 25 yards that flew in as the Palace keeper was lining up his wall.

Referee Dermot Gallagher rules out Palace's "goal"

It was only his third goal in a long Leeds career, but Palace responded with an equaliser inside two minutes.

And it was Gray, the hero of the fourth round win at Liverpool, who was on the mark again.

Gray took advantage when Leeds failed to clear a corner, lashing in a left foot drive that Lucas Radebe deflected past Kewell on the line.

But the real moment of controversy came six minutes before the interval - when Palace rightly felt they were denied a legitimate goal.

Leeds defender Danny Mills scrambled Andy Johnson's shot off the line before Black was denied in similar fashion by Michael Duberry.

We lost this game because the officials couldn't make the right decision

Crystal Palace boss Trevor Francis

Black appealed furiously for a goal, and replays proved that not only did Duberry handle the ball away, but it was also well behind the line.

The action continued to swing from end to end after the break, with Mills seeing a powerful drive blocked by Berthelin.

And it was the Premiership side who made the breakthrough with 18 minutes left, courtesy of a moment of individual brilliance from Kewell.

He left Palace's defenders trailing in a weaving run before beating the flat-footed Berthelin from just outside the box.

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Crystal Palace: Berthelin, Powell (Akinbiyi 90), Symons (Granville 50), Mullins, Butterfield (Freedman 79), Riihilahti, Derry, Black, Gray, Johnson, Adebola.
Subs not used: Kolinko, Thomson.

Leeds: Robinson, Harte, Radebe, Duberry, Mills, Wilcox, Seth Johnson, Okon (Milner 60), Kelly, Kewell (Barmby 75), Smith (Lucic 85).
Subs not used: Martyn, Kilgallon.

Booked: Seth Johnson, Duberry, Kewell.

Attendance: 24,512

Referee: D Gallagher (England).