Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Mon 9 March 2026 17:10, UK

Lukas Nmecha was spotted shoving Leeds United team-mate Ao Tanaka during a light-hearted moment ahead of the impressive 3-0 FA Cup victory against Norwich City.

Daniel Farke’s side cruised into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2003 after comfortably dispatching their Championship opponents.

It had been a day of shocks in the competition, with Fulham and Sunderland both crashing out, but there would be no such scare for the Whites.

With their Premier League survival fight put to one side, spirits appeared to be high, and this was certainly evident ahead of their progression to the next round of the FA Cup.

Why did Lukas Nmecha push Ao Tanaka?

Nmecha has been underutilised at Leeds, but was afforded the opportunity to lead the line with Dominic Calvert-Lewin rested as an injury precaution.

The frontman responded with a lively display and was equally energetic during the warm-ups, too.

According to Graham Smyth in his ‘unseen moments’ article for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Nmecha half-heartedly took exception to being nutmegged by Tanaka.

Tanaka silkily threaded the ball through the German’s legs during a possession drill, and Nmecha responded by shoving him to the ground, off the pitch.

Despite Tanaka almost being sent flying into a camera, he saw the funny side.

It should be stressed that the moment was entirely in jest, and the Whites’ starting XI went on to get the job done, sealing their spot in the last eight in style.

How did Nmecha play against Norwich City?

Nmecha did more than enough to stake his claim to fill in for Calvert-Lewin more often, and he may well get the chance due to the question marks around the latter’s fitness.

The 27-year-old will likely feel aggrieved that his first-half goal was ruled out after a handball from Wilfried Gnonto, while he also missed several more chances.

However, he did ultimately notch an assist, continuing his strong start to life at Elland Road, and has proven he can lead the line even in the absence of his usual strike partner.

But doing the business against a Championship outfit is a very different prospect to scoring the goals required to keep Leeds in the Premier League.

Only time will tell whether he is able to take that next step.