|
|
 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Giant step Leeds smashes Deportivo 3-0 in quarterfinal
Updated: Wednesday April 04, 2001 5:52 PM
LEEDS, England (AP) -- Leeds United took a giant step toward the Champions Cup last four Tuesday, beating a disappointing Deportivo 3-0 in a pulsating quarterfinal first leg game. Ian Harte, Alan Smith and Rio Ferdinand scored as the English side made surprisingly light work of the defending Spanish titlists. David O'Leary's team is now tantalizingly close to a semifinal match against another English side -- Arsenal -- or another Spanish side -- Valencia. Valencia reached the final last season, losing to Real Madrid. Leeds began the match at breakneck pace, hustling Deportivo with the aim of throwing them off stride. Leeds almost got its first goal through a powerful shot by midfielder Lee Bowyer, who had raced 100 kilometers (70 miles) to Elland Road from his trial at Hull Crown Court where he is accused of being involved in an attack on an Asian student. Driven on by a fervent Elland Road crowd and a strong wind, Leeds' more direct approach worked as they pushed a nervy Deportivo onto the back foot. In the 26th minute, O'Leary's side took a deserved lead when Irish international fullback Ian Harte scored with an unstoppable deadball kick from just outside the penalty area which flew home via the crossbar. Seven minutes later, Jose Francisco Molina did well to stop a wickedly swerving long shot by English international David Batty, whose marshaling of the midfield with Olivier Dacourt was snuffing out an unusually uncertain Deportivo. Leeds could easily have doubled their lead just before halftime when Dacourt went close with a long drive and striker Alan Smith headed a Harry Kewell cross just wide. French referee Gilles Veissiere blew the whistle on a half which bore the telling statistic that Leeds had hit six shots on target while Deportivo had none. The second half began as the first had ended with Leeds driving forward and Smith quickly saw his powerful shot tipped around the post by Molina. In the 51st minute, Leeds received just reward with their second goal when Harte's outswinging cross was met well by Smith as the 20-year-old striker's header proved too fierce for Molina. A tame 55th minute shot by striker Roy Makaay which was easily saved by Nigel Martin represented Deportivo's first on-target shot of the game although Harte responded a minute later with a much more dangerous free-kick which curled inches wide. Leeds' joy was completed in the 66th minute when substitute Juan Valeron mistakenly headed a corner over an outstretched Molina for England international Ferdinand to head home Leeds' third and his first-ever Champions League goal. Coach Javier Irureta shuffled his pack in search of a vital away goal by substituting Lionel Scaloni and Fran Gonzalez with Walter Pandiani and Deportivo's leading league scorer, Diego Tristan. Deportivo pressed more in the latter stages of the match as Leeds became nervous of conceding a late goal. Yet on the two occasions that they found chinks in Leeds' defensive armor, England international goalie Martin pulled off impressive saves. SummaryScorers: Ian Harte 26, Alan Smith 51, Rio Ferdinand 66 Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 35,508 Teams: Leeds United: 1-Nigel Martyn; 18-Danny Mills, 29-Rio Ferdinand, 21-Dominic Matteo; 11-Lee Bowyer, 3-Ian Harte, 4-Olivier Dacourt, 23-David Batty, 10-Harry Kewell (16-Jason Wilcox 84); 17-Alan Smith, 9-Mark Viduka Deportivo: 13-Francisco Molinal; 2-Manuel Pablo, 3-Enrique Romero, 4-Nourredine Naybet, 5-Cesar; 10-Fran (17-Walter Pandiani 71), 12-Sebastian Scaloni (9-Diego Tristan 71), 14-Emerson, 23-Pedro Duscher (21-Juan Carlos Valeron 54); 7-Roy Makaay; 8-Djalminha Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France)
Reuters contributed to this report.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
