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November 30, 2002
(Saturday)
Woodgate steps up
to ease strain on Venebles
TWO weeks ago La
Rosaleda stadium was flooded by torrential rain.
Terry Venables, the Leeds United manager, knows that feeling well
enough as he struggles to keep his head above water. The chirpy
Cockney has come to resemble a drowning man. Thank heavens, then, for
the Uefa Cup.
This result provided some breathing space. Leeds were organised,
committed and, thanks largely to an imperious performance from
Jonathan Woodgate in a makeshift defence, have a gilt-edged chance to
make it through the third round and into the last 16.
Returning to Spain, where Leeds duelled with Real Madrid, Barcelona,
Valencia and Deportivo La Coruña as they swaggered their way to the
European Cup semi-finals two seasons ago, will have served as a sharp
reminder of the club's slump. Elland Road has become the scene of
domestic discord and it is no coincidence that the team's better
displays have come away from that cauldron of dissatisfaction. After
three wins in their past 13 games, Leeds and Venables needed a
result.
Michael Duberry came in for only his second start of the season and
he quickly had chances to shake off any ring rust. Although Dario
Silva, the Uruguay striker, was sidelined with a rib injury that may
keep him out of the second leg, Málaga began brightly. The pace and
muscular threat of Kizito Musampa and Julio Dely Valdes threatened to
catch Leeds out, but inaccurate final balls and the poise of Woodgate
rescued them.
Leeds began to forge openings of their own. However, in keeping with
their recent run, they failed to make them count. Harry Kewell, whose
rare talent is so often kept hidden from view, found himself clean
through on goal, but his finish was that of a man shorn of
confidence, a tepid attempt at a chip that was easily gathered by
Pedro Contreras.
Málaga continued to give Kewell and Alan Smith the sort of room more
normally associated with the Yorkshire Moors. Smith latched on to
Jason Wilcox's pass, but he also squandered the opportunity and
Contreras pushed his effort round a post. Kewell's cross-cum-shot
then evaded the advancing Smith by a yard.
Smith was also showing the flip side of his nature. Having being
labelled "a thug" by Hapoel Tel-Aviv's players in the last round, he
went in determined search of another yellow card. Having avoided it
when he got involved in a mêlée that had nothing to do with him, he
finally got his just deserts for shoving Marcelo Romero. When he
lunged at Contreras with his foot raised, you sensed the worst, even
though no contact was made. As the volatile crowd bayed for his
blood, Smith survived to fight another half.
This was a better Leeds performance, though. Woodgate oozed
confidence, while Eirik Bakke was far more comfortable restored to
his midfield berth after Sunday's sweeper experiment. Yet Leeds were
almost behind immediately after the restart when Dely Valdes, the
Panamanian, turned inside the area and shot low to the left of Paul
Robinson, who produced a smart save.
Jóaquin Peiro, the coach, added a brace of forwards to the mix.
Miguel Roteta flashed a header wide of a post when he should have
done better, but with Musampa dropping to midfield and looking far
more threatening, Leeds needed to show more resilience. They did and
in a fortnight must overcome their aversion to playing at home.
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