Leeds put a tempestuous last few days behind them to produce a heroic display on the Costa del Sol and ensure there was no further pain in Spain for El Tel with a deserved 0-0 draw with Malaga in the third round of the UEFA Cup. United boss Terry Venables and his under-performing players have been put through the wringer in recent weeks, coming under fire for a number of inept displays which have belied the talent in the team.
But against Malaga, Leeds dug deep into their reserves of spirit Venables has long cited exists within the squad to produce a defiant goalless draw in the first leg of their third-round tie at the Estadio La Rosaleda. Venables named his strongest possible line-up but, with the squad down to its bare bones, he had only six players on the bench rather than the seven permitted by UEFA.
The home side started brightest and it took timely defending from Jonathan Woodgate on two occasions and Duberry on another before a mistake on the edge of his own area by Fernando Sanz in the ninth minute gave Leeds their first chance. Harry Kewell was left with Pedro Contreras to beat but the Australian's attempted chip from 16 yards was woeful as the Spain international keeper comfortably collected.
Malaga followed up with a searing left-foot half-volley from Raul Iznata which was straight down the throat of Paul Robinson, while Leeds then broke with Jason Wilcox feeding a through-ball into Alan Smith but his powerful drive to rebound off the legs of Contreras. Malaga also wasted a fine opportunity when a Sandro quick free-kick picked out Kiki Musampa, but the Dutchman blazed over from 16 yards.
Just before the break Contreras was called upon to save his side again when Kewell rifled in an angled drive from a Wilcox pass, only for the shot to be punched away. After the restart, Robinson produced his first notable save Musampa turned the ball into the heart of the area for Dely Valdez to miscue a 12-yard left-foot shot, although Robinson was still virtually at full stretch to keep the ball out.
Edgar and Dely Valdes both went close as the clock counted down, and Leeds survived one final scare when a Musampa cross ballooned up off Harte and appeared to be heading goalwards, only for Robinson to clutch the ball to his chest in relief.
Filed by Shane Murray
