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Thursday November 22nd

Grasshoppers 1-2 Leeds United

UEFA Cup Round 3 (1)

Grasshoppers 1 Leeds 2

By Ian Parkes, PA Sport, in Zurich

 

Leeds came from behind to keep their dreams of UEFA Cup glory alive as manager David O'Leary's side finally found a cure for their European travel sickness.

 

Two goals in the space of seven late, second-half minutes, with Alan Smith scoring the winner for his first goal since the opening day of the season, ended a run of five successive away defeats on the Continent.

 

In truth, it was the brilliance of Nigel Martyn which prevented it from being six as the England international produced a world class display of goalkeeping prior to Leeds turning the first leg of this third-round tie at the Hardturm Stadium on its head.

 

Martyn was in impeccable form, producing a string of stunning saves - including one from the penalty spot - with his efforts proving to be vital as Ian Harte struck his third goal of the season in the 73rd minute with a trademark free-kick prior to Smith completing the turnaround.

 

For O'Leary it was a triumph over adversity as the 43-year-old Irishman has bemoaned the lack of strength in depth of his squad recently, and never was it more glaringly underlined than against 25-times Swiss champions Grasshoppers.

 

With Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka on World Cup duty with Australia, Seth Johnson ineligible until the fourth round following his £9million move from Derby last month, and the likes of Lee Bowyer, Michael Bridges, Lucas Radebe and Jacob Burns injured, O'Leary could only muster 15 players for this tie.

 

No doubt that when everyone is available, O'Leary has one of the highest quality squads in the Premier League, but in a time of crisis such as he had predicted November would be, the problems were obvious.

 

When questioned prior to the game as to whether this tie would simply be a damage limitation exercise, O'Leary responded by saying a draw would be a more than adequate result, but he was rewarded instead with a priceless win.

 

But it was no wonder he had uttered such a comment given Leeds' woeful away record in Europe having lost to Real Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia in the Champions League last season and Maritimo and Troyes in the UEFA Cup this campaign.

 

However, Leeds had the chances in the opening 10 minutes to perhaps have put the tie beyond Grasshoppers' reach as the home side looked like a team which had lost four of their previous home matches.

 

Smith and Olivier Dacourt both came close to capitalising on poor defending, only for the England striker and France midfielder to watch their respective shots finish either side of the woodwork.

 

Despite the unrelenting rain on a cold, miserable night, Leeds were still able to play a controlled passing game before the conditions became too difficult and the ball began to stick in the growing number of puddles which proliferated across the surface.

 

Initially it was David Batty, Danny Mills and Eirik Bakke combining in the ninth minute, only for the latter's pull back to fall behind Smith who had a clear sight of goal.

 

Moments later and it was skipper Rio Ferdinand beginning a five-man move which ended with Smith unable to connect cleanly with a Harte cross from the right wing.

 

Then Leeds were struck by a bolt out of the blue as Stephane Chapuisat unleashed a 22-yard drive which skidded into Martyn's bottom right-hand corner, but only after the Swiss star had been allowed too much time and space in setting up his shot with a run across the edge of the area.

 

Now in the ascendancy, Pascal Castillo and livewire Senegalese star Papa Bouba Diop - inspired by the drum-playing African contingent among the Swiss crowd situated directly behind O'Leary - both came close to adding a second.

 

A linesman's flag for offside denied Leeds the equaliser in the 27th minute, with Smith sliding the ball home underneath the advancing Peter Jehle, but having timed his run onto a Robbie Keane through-ball marginally too late.

 

It was Jehle who brilliantly tipped away a Castillo sliced clearance in the opening minute of the second half prior to Martyn producing five minutes of goalkeeping of the highest quality to keep Leeds in the game and the competition.

 

With the conditions now having become a lottery, Martyn brilliantly saved from Diop, Cabanas and Richard Nunez.

 

Either side of the heroic hat-trick of saves, the rangy Diop had flashed powerful drives narrowly wide before the turning point of the game came in the 67th minute.

 

Ferdinand was unlucky to concede a penalty in tugging back Nunez as the incident took place just outside the area, but the England centre-back - equally as lucky to only receive a yellow card for the foul - was grateful as Martyn was again outstanding.

 

The 35-year-old first turned aside Nunez's spot-kick, but the danger remained, only for Martyn to then deny Cabanas at point-blank range from the follow up.

 

It provided the inspiration for Leeds to turn the game on its head as Harte curled in a 20-yard free-kick after Mihai Tararache had been booked for a foul on Dacourt.

 

It was Dacourt's weak shot in the penalty area mud which allowed Smith to then pounce from eight yards in the 80th minute and trundle home an unlikely winner and ensure Leeds are now firm favourites to reach the last 16.

 

 

Teams

 

Grasshoppers: Jehle, Bouba Diop, Hodel, Smiljanic, Schwegler, Nunez Pereyra, Cabanas (Baturina 74), Tararache (Petric 88), Castillo, Mwaruwari (Gerber 80), Chapuisat.

 

Subs Not Used: Huber, Spycher, Morales, Jaggy.

 

Booked: Tararache.

 

Goals: Chapuisat 17.

 

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Bakke, Batty, Dacourt, Wilcox, Smith, Keane. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Kelly, McPhail, Duberry.

 

Booked: Wilcox, Mills, Ferdinand.

 

Goals: Harte 73, Smith 79.

 

Att: 15,000

 

Ref: L Batista (Portugal).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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