UNITED'S Champions League dream ended in tatters as a double strike by Juan Sanchez - one a dubious handball - and a goal by Gaizka Mendieta gave Valencia a 3-0 win in the Mestalla with Alan Smith sent off in the last minute.

Smith's dismissal for hacking down Vicente and that typified their night.

Leeds were rocked by yet another amazing decision to allow Sanchez's first strike to stand after the ball flew into the net with all the United players claiming handball and the television replays suggesting they were right.

But it was their after the half time interval that really did the damage, as two clean strikes by the Spaniards put the game and the tie beyond them.

So ended Leeds and England's hopes, but David O'Leary and his side can be proud of what they've achieved and proud to been the Premiership's last standing representative.

With the shock three match suspension handed out by UEFA to Leeds midfielder Lee Bowyer on Monday, O'Leary was forced to make one change to the side that saw United through to this stage in La Coruna and which drew 0-0 with Valencia at Elland Road last week.

Norwegian international Eirik Bakke was handed a midfield role in Bowyer's place.

Valencia coach Hector Cuper was also forced to make two changes to his team after first leg booking for Ruben Baraja and Amedeo Carboni ruled them out of the return.

Young Brazilian defender Fabio Aurelio came in at left back and Argentine ace, Pablo Aimar, into midfield.

The Mestalla, including 3000 Leeds fans, was packed to the rafters, as United kicked off to a crescendo of noise.

They were soon under pressure as Valencia attacked from the first whistle and inside three minutes Nigel Martyn had to beat away a fierce drive from the right by Mendieta, while Kily Gonzalez Pablo Aimar both looked dangerous.

The Spanish international tried another long range effort but was way off target before United settled into the game.

Harry Kewell's first two runs down the left set alarm bells ringing for Cuper's side, his second forced keeper Canizares to punch clear, with Mark Viduka pressurising the Valencia keeper.

John Carew's run and low cross down the right forced a solid clearance by Matteo to avoid the danger, but on 16 minutes Valencia took the lead in controversial circumstances.

Mendieta had already tested the United defence with an inswinging free-kick and when he had time to deliver another telling cross from the right, Juan Sanchez stole behind the Leeds back four and nudged the ball past the Nigel Martyn from five yards, with the Leeds players correctly claiming the ball touched Sanchez's arm.

Stunned by the goal, Leeds immediately forced a corner, but the move ended with David Batty heading behind.

Harry Kewell then produced two superb pieces of skill to try to bring United level. A run and cross from the left producing amass scramble inside the Valencia area, the ball being finally hacked clear and then a shot from 20 yards which fizzed over the bar.

Olivier Dacourt run found the French midfielder in space but his shot was straight at Canizares, while Martyn watched another long range effort by Sanchez fly high and wide of his goal.

Past the half hour mark, Viduka's trickery on the left of the created an opening for Batty, but the Leeds midfielder's effort was easy for Canizares, who moments later got down well to save Alan Smith's low drive.

Carew had a header deflected over for a corner, but Leeds still created chances when they attacked and Viduka was clearly annoyed with himself when he should have done better with a glancing header from Kewell's cross, the ball going well wide of the right hand upright.

Ayala's header flashed from a corner flashed over the bar, but Leeds ended the half on the attack, with Smith's shot shot from a tight angle charged down by Pellegrino.

United came out first after the break knowing they had to score to survive and just two minutes in they knew had to grab two goals.

It was that man Juan Sanchez again who did the damage. Allowed space on the edge of the United area made by the clever off the ball running of Aimar and Carew, this time there could be no arguments about the goal as the Valencia striker's low show flew low past Martyn into the right hand corner.

Five minutes later United's nightmare start to the second half got worse, when a quick break following a Leeds corner, Valencia raced up field with the Leeds back line depleted in numbers and Mendieta made amends for a bad miss a minute earlier by firing low into the corner with his left foot from 20 yards.

From then on United struggled to get to grips with Valencia who could have added a fourth and a hat-trick for Sanchez but his stabbed shot hit the right post and was cleared.

Didier Deschamps, on for Aimar, had a shot blocked on the edge of the area, Carew had a shot superbly saved by Martyn, but Leeds battled bravely on to the end, but their season had finally run out of gas and the adventure gone just one step too far and Smith's reckless act was the sad finale.

So ended United's dream, but the journey truly was an amazing one and the taste of it will last long in the mouths of players and fans at the club.

Leeds will now hope that it's not long before their feasting on the Champions League meal again.