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Weathering the storm Deportivo wins 2-0, but Leeds makes last four
Updated: Tuesday April 17, 2001 7:02 PM
LA CORUNA, Spain (AP) -- Leeds United scraped through to the Champions League semifinal 3-2 on aggregate against an unlucky Deportivo la Coruna despite losing the quarterfinal second leg 2-0 at Riazor Tuesday. In the semifinal in early May, Leeds will meet Valencia, which got through on away goals against Arsenal. Fighting to come back from the heavy first-leg defeat, Djalminha gave Deportivo early hope with a 9th minute penalty. But despite some breathtaking play which left Leeds fighting a desperate rearguard action, Deportivo could only score once more through substitute Diego Tristan's 72nd-minute strike. Deportivo got the early encouragement it needed when in the 8th minute Victor Sanchez was upended in the box by Kewell as both players ran in to meet Fran Gonzalez's cross. Italian referee Stefano Braschi had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. What followed was a fascinating duel between Djalminha and Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn who stayed his ground, clearly aware of the Brazilian's tendency to caress his penalty kicks. Awaiting Martyn's first move, the midfielder delayed before calmly sweeping the ball home to the right, reducing the overall deficit to two goals with 82 minutes left. Leeds, which had lost both its Champions League encounters in Spain this season, was then put under intense pressure by a rampant Deportivo. Four minutes later, a Fran cross hit Martyn's far post with the England international keeper stranded. Inspired by Djalminha, Deportivo surged forward in waves as Leeds failed to hold the ball for more than a pair of seconds without losing possession. In the 23rd minute, Rio Ferdinand was booked for kicking the ball away after a tussle with Fran as Leeds looked groggy from the intensity of the Deportivo attacks. The Spaniards continued to search for a second goal and Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani, Manuel Pablo Garcia and Pandiani again came desperately close to a second goal just after the half hour. Completely against the run of play, Leeds almost leveled in the 43rd minute when Donato stumbled to put Alan Smith clear through on goal but the angle proved too narrow and the young striker shot into the side netting. The halftime whistle could not have come a moment too soon for Leeds which had been over-run by Deportivo's determined first-half display. The second half began in similar fashion and Enrique Romero was denied by a magnificent save by Martyn who tipped the defender's long shot onto the bar in the 49th minute. Leeds won their first corners of the match in quick succession in the 53rd minute as the subdued 1,700 English fans in the Riazor stadium prayed that it had weathered the storm. The game then took on a more balanced feel as a tiring Deportivo began to misplace its passes for the first time and Leeds managed to hold onto the ball a little longer. Sensing this, coach Javier Irureta brought on the club's top scorer this season, Diego Tristan, for Victor with 25 minutes remaining. Still requiring at least two goals to stay in the competition, Roy Makaay headed fiercely onto the bar from ten yards (meters) out as Deportivo were left despairing again. But in the 73rd minute, Deportivo scored the second goal its play deserved when Tristan clipped home past Martyn from Fran's pinpointed low cross. With the excitement reaching a crescendo, Leeds immediately hit back and Deportivo keeper Jose Francisco Molina was forced to make a brilliant save from Mark Viduka. Leeds managed to hold on grimly in the remaining quarter of an hour as Deportivo battled in vain to gain the third goal its huge effort merited. O'Leary amazed by Leeds' progressLeeds United manager David O'Leary said he was astonished that his young team had made the semifinals of the Champions League. "Frankly I am amazed that we have reached the next stage of the competition," said the Irishman after his team completed a 3-2 aggregate victory over Spanish champions Deportivo Coruna. The English premier league club lost 2-0 on the night and had to endure some severe pressure from the home side to cling on for their triumph. "We knocked out a very good side and rode our luck tonight but it is about time we enjoyed a bit of good fortune after all we have endured this season," O'Leary said. Leeds fell behind to an eighth minute Djalminha penalty before Diego Tristan made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute but Leeds held their ground to repel Deportivo's late pressure. O'Leary admitted that he was disappointed with his side's performance on the night but said they gave their all. "I felt we weren't playing as we should and I told them that in no uncertain terms at halftime but the players gave everything and Alan Smith had an unbelievable game up front. "We were facing a team that we knew could score goals and I was never confident with a three-goal lead but we hung on and now we are in the last four of a world-class competition." The Leeds coach said he was now looking forward to the next stage of the European campaign. "Now the adventure continues as we face Valencia. I wouldn't have minded who we faced but I know they are an exceptional side who were only beaten by a world-class side in last year's final," O'Leary said. Mammoth effort Deportivo coach Javier Irureta said he could not fault the effort of his players but the first leg result had weighed heavily on his team. "We made a mammoth effort, scored two goals and hit the post on a number of occasions but it just wasn't enough to go through," Irureta said. "The three goals in the first leg took their toll and Leeds defended well against our constant attacks but in the end they enjoyed their bit of good fortune." Irureta said that although he was disappointed by the result he was pleased that his team had produced such a positive performance. "I was pleased with the image we gave in this game and felt that we could have won but it just wasn't our night," he said. The Deportivo coach said that Leeds had impressed him over the course of the two legs and could go even further in the competition. "Leeds are a very good side and the fact that they have gone 11 games unbeaten in the [English] Premiership shows how well they are playing. It is even possible that they could win the tournament. "I wish them the best of luck in the next round and hope they continue their good run."
SummaryScorers: Djalminha 8pen, Diego Tristan 73 Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 35,000 Teams: Deportivo Coruna: 13-Jose Molina; 2-Manuel Pablo, 20-Donato, 4-Nourredine Naybet, 3-Enrique Romero; 18-Victor (9-Diego Tristan 60), 6-Mauro Silva, 10-Fran, 8-Djalminha (21-Juan Carlos Valeron 67), 17-Walter Pandiani (11-Turu Flores 77), 7-Roy Makaay. Leeds United: 1-Nigel Martyn; 18-Danny Mills, 29-Rio Ferdinand, 21-Dominic Matteo, 3-Ian Harte; 11-Lee Bowyer, 4-Olivier Dacourt, 23-David Batty, 10-Harry Kewell (Eirik Bakke 75); 9-Mark Viduka 17-Alan Smith. Referee: Stefano Braschi (Italy)
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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