Leeds United have failed to make it into the final of the Champions League after they were beaten 3-0 by Valencia in Spain this evening. Although questions will be asked over Valencia's opening strike, which tv replays suggest was a handball, the Spanish side deserved their victory with two early second-half goals that killed off any chance Leeds had of progressing to this year's final and, when Alan Smith was sent off in the dying minutes, it summed up what was a yet another Spanish night to forget for David O'Leary's men.
Leeds were already at a disadvantage before the kick-off as they were forced to line out without their influential midifielder Lee Bowyer following UEFA's decision last night to impose a three-match ban on the Leeds star for an allegedly stamping on Juan Sanchez in the scoreless first leg last week. Eirik Bakke was drafted in as his replacement in tonight's line-up. However, Valencia themselves were missing top players Amedeo Carboni and Ruben Baraja, both suspended.
Valencia began brightly and tested Nigel Martyn within the first few minutes when Gaizka Mendieta forced him into making a brilliant save. On the quarter-hour mark, the Spanish side took the lead through a controversial goal. A low cross from Mendieta found Sanchez at the far post and as the striker stooped to head past the Leeds keeper, the ball seemed to strike his shoulder. Although Martyn and his defence appealed for handball, referee Urs Meier from Switzerland waved away their pleas and the goal stood.
That goal seemed to give Leeds the focus they needed and their play became more direct and purposeful as the first half wore on. Both teams pressed forward and Leeds did manage to create a few meaningful chances with Olivier Dacourt, Harry Kewell, David Batty, Smith and Mark Viduka all going close. Valencia continued to pose a threat also and Leeds were relieved to see John Carew's effort float wide and Roberto Ayala's header just miss the target as half-time loomed.
But just two minutes after the re-start, any hopes Leeds had of achieving the unbelievable and reaching this year's final were dashed when Sanchez added insult to injury to score his side's second of the night. Leeds had no one to blame but themselves as they lost possession and then failed to close down the Valencia striker as he bore down on goal before firing a blistering shot from about 25 yards out into the bottom corner of the net.
Before Leeds had a chance to get their breath back, Mendieta, in top form tonight, had a wonderful chance to make it 3-0 when he broke free of the Leeds defence but pushed the ball too far ahead of himself, allowing Martyn time to come foward and smother the ball. However, it proved a brief respite for Leeds as Mendiete made up for his error in the 52nd minute to score Valencia's third.
The Spanish club's captain took advantage of a sluggish Leeds defence, which could only watch as Mendiete rushed through to fire past Martyn. From then on in, Leeds were fortunate that the score remained at 3-0 as it could have been much, much worse. Martyn denied Mendiete and Carew while Sanchez managed to hit the post.
When Alan Smith let his frustrations show through with a reckless tackle on Vicente late on, Meier had no choice but to show the youngster red, making tonight's match the low point of what has been a magical European adventure for O'Leary and his young side.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
