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Anderlecht out Leeds wins 4-1, advances to Champions League quarters
Updated: Thursday February 22, 2001 4:48 AM
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Two first-half strikes from Alan Smith on Wednesday led Leeds past Anderlecht 4-1 and into the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The Group D result, the first home loss in 10 Champions League games for Anderlecht, also eliminated the Belgian champion from the competition. Group-leader Real Madrid and Lazio of Rome played to a 2-2 draw, eliminating Lazio and sending Real Madrid into the quarterfinals. Leeds created the vital breakthrough in the 14th minute, when it capitalized on some sloppy Anderlecht defending and the first classy move of Marko Viduka. The strong forward created some space to the left in the penalty area and had time to pick out two unmarked players in the Anderlecht goalmouth. Smith got there first and had no trouble stabbing it past goalie Zvonko Milojevic. In the 34th minute, Viduka turned from provider to finisher. First midfielder Olivier Dacourt sent Dominic Matteo roving off on the left, Anderlecht's weak spot. Again, too much time was granted for the cross and Viduka sent a looping header past the Yugoslav keeper. By now, Anderlecht was all over the place, and was punished again in the 39th minute, when David Batty put Smith clean through the center and the forward used a delicate chip to put the game away for good. In the 76th minute, Czech international Jan Koller got a consolation goal. Leeds would not stand a late comeback and immediately hit back when Ian Harte converted a penalty in the 83rd minute after Viduka had been elbowed down in the area by outpaced defender Glen De Boeck. In the second half, Leeds defender Rio Ferdinand saw his volley off a corner stopped on the line by Anderlecht's star forward Koller. The Champions League run is a huge boon for Leeds coach David O'Leary, whose expensive team is only in fifth place in the English Premier League. Leeds beat Anderlecht 2-1 last week. In the sold-out 24,000 Constant Vanden Stock stadium, Anderlecht immediately showed its intentions, knowing only a win would do to keep its surprise run in the competition alive. Once Smith had doused those ambitions, Anderlecht looked awkward and for the second Champions League game in a row, its vaunted forward line of Czech international Koller and Canadian Tomasz Radzinski was ineffective for the first 75 minutes. Leeds came to Brussels without last week's hero Lee Bowyer, who scored last week's winner in the dying moments of the game. He also received a yellow card, his second overall, excluding him from Wednesday's game.
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