Leeds United's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League are very much alive today after they beat relegated Bradford City 6-1 in the Yorkshire derby. Leeds, Liverpool and Ipswich are all in line to snatch that final Champions League spot but David O'Leary's men needed to win today to ensure they are in contention on the final day of action in the Premiership next weekend.
Bradford had nothing but pride to play for as their future has already been decided but they might not be so sorry to see the First Division next season after today's comprehensive defeat. Six of the game's seven goals arrived in the opening 45 minutes and although the Leeds fans were baying for more in the second half, Leeds final strike did not materialise until five minutes from the end.
Bradford had been playing some wonderful football in the early stages of the opening half. One move saw the relegated side string together nine successive passes before a Benito Carbone back-heel set-up Eoin Jess and his 18-yard shot was pushed over the bar by Nigel Martyn.
However, Leeds' scoring spree got underway in the 14th minute when Mark Viduka headed home from close range after full-back Ian Harte set him up with a great cross from the left. Harte turned from provider to scorer five minutes later when he beat Bradford keeper Aidan Davison, a replacement for Gary Walsh who was injured in the warm-up, with a stunning free-kick from about 25 yards out. Bradford reduced the deficit in the 22nd minute when Ashley Ward brilliantly turned on the ball to fire it past Martyn but it would prove their only highlight of the afternoon.
It took Leeds a mere five minutes to restore their two-goal advantage when Alan Smith, in for the injured Robbie Keane, sent a wonderful pass to the feet of Eirik Bakke who then lobbed Davison to score. Leeds added a fourth goal in the 38th minute, after Viduka nodded down to Smith and the young striker scored his 16th of the season from close range. Before Bradford had time to recover from this latest blow, they were 5-1 down. Harry Kewell scored a wonderful solo goal, pouncing on a goal-kick from Martyn before he duped the Bradford defence and found the net for his second goal since returning from injury three months ago.
With their humiliation compounded by this fifth goal, the game fell apart for the visitors and they began to fight amongst themselves. Stuart McCall and Andy Myers came to blows as half-time loomed and it appeared Myers struck his captain on the cheek. Just as McCall was ready to retaliate Leeds defender Gunnar Halle stepped in to separate the pair. No action was taken as the officials did not witness the incident. The half-time whistle was welcome relief for the Bantams, giving them a chance to compose themselves after a nightmare first half.
They managed to hold out against Leeds onslaught in the second period of play until the 85th minute, when Lee Bowyer pounced on a mistake by Wayne Jacobs, who failed to clear a cross from Harte, and the midfielder fired home. With goal difference possibly deciding who will snatch that final Champions League spot next weekend, Leeds have improved their cause immensely as they now have a better goal difference than Ipswich.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
