Date: Tuesday, 11th May 1999.

Venue: Elland Road, Leeds.

Competition: English Premier League.

Score: Leeds United 1 Arsenal 0.

Scorers: Leeds United: Hasselbaink. Arsenal: Nil.

Attendance: 40,124.

Teams:

Leeds United: Martyn; Haaland, Woodgate, Radebe, Harte; Hopkin, Batty, Bowyer, Kewell; Hasselbaink, Smith. Unused Subs: Wetherall, Granville, McPhail, Jones, Robinson.                            

Arsenal: Seaman; Dixon, Adams, Keown, Winterburn (Vivas); Parlour (Diawara), Vieira, Petit, Overmars (Kanu); Bergkamp, Anelka. Unused Subs: Bould, Lukic.

Referee: Mr G. Willard (Goring-by-the-sea).

 

There were mixed emotions felt after United's 1-0 victory over championship-chasing Arsenal at Elland Road in 1999. It was a night of paradox for Leeds fans when title-chasing Arsenal rolled into town. May 11, 1999 wasn't a day that many Leeds United fans remember, but it was the day that David O'Leary's babies played like men and toppled the Champions. Leeds came into the match with nothing to play for except pride, as they knew they would be finishing in fourth place, while Arsene Wenger's side had the championship to play for.

It was a two horse race between Arsenal and Manchester United, and Leeds knew that a United victory would hand the title to their old rivals across the Pennines. The game was played at a ferocious pace, with Australian Harry Kewell coming close in the early stages. Then in the stoppage time at the end of the first half, Leeds were awarded a penalty after Martin Keown clumsily tripped a young Alan Smith in the area. However, Ian Harte's penalty came back off the bar and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink's rebound was straight at David Seaman.

The second half of the game was all Arsenal. Jonathan Woodgate cleared Kaba Diawara's volley off the line, while the Frenchman also had a header which came off the crossbar. The last few minutes were approaching when Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith swapped passes. Alan Smith played it out wide to Harry Kewell, who swung in a cross for Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink to head home the winner. It was great to have beaten Arsenal, but the only bleak point from an amazing night was that Leeds had just handed Manchester United the title on a plate.

 

 

 

Match Action:

 

  

                                                                                                                               Flare up between Alan Smith and Patrick Veiera

 

 

David Batty tussles with Nicolas Anelka                           Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith get the better of Martin Keown

 

 

David Hopkin fights for possession with Patrick Veiera                            Harry Kewell leaves Patrick Veiera and Emmanuel Petit behind

 

Players:

 

         

Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink got the                 Harry Kewell crossed for the winner after Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith had combined

only goal for Leeds

 

                 

Jonathan Woodgate cleared off                 David Seaman was in the Arsenal goal        Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn were the full-backs

the line

 

            

 Tony Adams and Martin Keown were the central defence pairing                                         Dennis Bergkamp and Nicolas Anelka were the strikers

 

      

Ray Parlour, Patrick Veiera, Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars were the strong Arsenal midfield

 

     

Nelson Vivas, Nwankwo Kanu and Kaba Diawara were the Arsenal substitutes                     Steve Bould and Ex-Leeds  John Lukic were unused