Rampant Leeds avoided one of the most embarrassing nights in their history as they mauled European minnows Maritimo to duly take their place in the second round of the UEFA Cup.

It was 30 years since Leeds were dumped out of the first round of the competition to Belgian side Lierse just a few months after having lifted the trophy with a stunning triumph over Juventus under the leadership of the legendary Don Revie.

Manager David O'Leary's side had no intention of repeating such an ignominious exit against the Portuguese, not after their heroic European exploits of the last two years had catapulted them into the continental elite.

In the end the scoreline reflected the difference between the two sides as goals from Robbie Keane, Harry Kewell and Eirik Bakke erased the memory of last Thursday's nightmare in Funchal.

Clearly the accusations of complacency from Maritimo coach Nuno Vingada and his players which followed the humiliating 1-0 defeat rankled, and Leeds made them pay.

O'Leary's boys were determined not become the first-round fall-guys and suffer the added embarrassment of being dumped out of the competition just five months following their glorious run to the Champions League semi-finals.

Those heady European days throughout last season seemed far away as Leeds returned home from the holiday island of Madeira with tails between their legs in the wake of a such a dismal display.

The fear of further failure proved to be the driving force behind tonight's triumph as O'Leary demanded his players prove to the soccer world, and more importantly to the United fans, that last week's shock defeat was simply "a bad day at the office".

The UEFA Cup, after initially being derided by O'Leary as akin to the Worthington Cup, is now a tournament he wants to win as silverware is still missing at the end of his three years in charge.

Champions League football remains the ultimate prize, but O'Leary would like the glory of lifting a trophy, particularly after watching close friend Gerard Houllier do so with Liverpool three times last season.

Certainly Leeds could not afford to play as badly as they did last Thursday if they were to progress, and for 20 minutes - despite dominating proceedings - goalkeeper Nelson had still to be tested.

Instead, it was Nigel Martyn who was stretched in the 13th minute as a 45-yard free-kick seemingly posed little danger, only for Brazilian Dinda to deliver a devastating drive which kept low and swerved through the air.

Martyn could only scramble the ball away to his right before parrying away Quim Ferraz's acutely-angled follow-up as Leeds breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

But then came the breakthrough moment, and one to savour for Keane following his anguish last season in being forced to watch Leeds' Champions League heroics from the stands.

Although arriving in December from Inter Milan, the Republic of Ireland striker was ineligible to play for Leeds throughout the following months having already played for the Italian giants in a qualifying round.

Keane, though, made up for lost time as he took David Batty's long pass in his stride and despite being surrounded by three Maritimo players, all it took was a neat flick with the outside of his boot, a kind bounce and then a riveting drive to beat Nelson.

The surge in confidence was evident and after Batty and the exemplary Olivier Dacourt - so influential after a 10-day lay-off with a hamstring injury - had come close with rasping drives from the edge of the area, the second duly followed seven minutes prior to the break.

This time captain Rio Ferdinand was the supplier with a raking 50-yard forward pass for Mark Viduka to chase and after two touches to get the ball under control, a goal-line cross followed for fellow Australia international Harry Kewell.

The 23-year-old was given the simple task of heading the ball home from six yards for his third goal in two matches following his belated double in the 3-0 win over Derby on Sunday.

But the 2-0 scoreline was still a dangerous one for Leeds as Maritimo still needed a solitary strike to take the tie on the away goals rule, although any lingering fears were eased just after the hour.

Dacourt and Keane had chances, but it was Eirik Bakke who applied the coup de grace as he sidefooted home a rebound after Nelson had failed to hold a powerful Kewell shot.

Keane could have added to his tally in the closing 10 minutes, but fortunately by that stage the job had been done.

Teams:

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Bakke, Batty, Dacourt, Kewell, Keane, Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Kelly, Woodgate, Robinson, McPhail, Wilcox, Duberry, Burns.

Booked: Ferdinand, Matteo.

Goals: Keane 20, Kewell 37, Bakke 62.

Maritimo: Nelson, Lino, Sergio, van der Gaag, Briguel, Albertino, Dinda (Joel Santos 17), Zeca, Marcelo Bruno (Andre 59), Kenedy, Quim, Joel Santos (Gaucho 47).

Subs Not Used: Gilmar, Alan, Shannon, Arriola.

Booked: Sergio, Briguel, Zeca.

Agg (3-1)

Att: 38,125

Ref: S Farina (Italy).