Leeds United beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the EFL Cup, with their 3-4-2-1 shape proving more effective than Forest’s 3-4-3 despite possession being shared equally at 50%. Leeds carried the greater attacking threat, producing 13 shots to the hosts’ eight and placing five efforts on target, while Forest tested the visiting goalkeeper three times. James Justin scored one of Leeds’ two goals, giving their performance a named focal point without disguising the collective efficiency behind the result. The visitors’ two attacking midfielders offered support behind the central forward, while the wing-backs provided width against Forest’s four-man midfield. At the other end, Leeds recorded a 100% goalkeeper save rate, preserving the clean sheet from Forest’s three shots on target. Forest’s goalkeeper saved 60% of the five efforts faced, but the home side could not offset Leeds’ sharper execution in both penalty areas. With neither team holding a possession advantage, the decisive difference lay in how Leeds translated their attacking volume and structure into a two-goal margin. Leeds advance with a disciplined away win and clean sheet.