Date:
Venue:
Competition: English Premier League.
Score:
Scorers:
Attendance: 36,998.
Teams:
Referee: Mr A. Wiley (Burntwood, Staffordshire).
This was
the first game in a new regime, a Yorkshire consortium, with Gerald Krasner as their chairman and figurehead, had managed to
cobble together enough money to make an acceptable offer for the club and save
it from almost certain administration and possible liquidation and even
extinction. One hurdle had been overcome and now the next, the spectre of almost certain relegation had to
be tackled.
The gods
were smiling on Leeds United again. After a season of hurt and pain for the
After a
season of injustices and misfortune, it was somewhat ironic to see an opposing
manager leave
The
spot-kick may have been border-line, but it was United’s
first penalty in twenty-nine games and that alone says something about the luck
which has gone their way in the season. Keegan may also have forgotten a
certain penalty incident at the City of
Granted,
City played by far the better football, created far more chances and, for the
biggest part were the superior side, but it wasn’t all
about prettiness. At times
Skipper
Dominic Matteo was simply magnificent at the back,
and not for the first time this season, he’s never-say-die attitude summed up United’s performance. His handling of Nicolas Anelka was a lesson for youngsters. He stood off the
Frenchman well and made a number of crucial blocks to frustrate the City
striker. Steve Caldwell, who was named that day in the
City’s
presence in midfield, they played five across the middle, was always going to
cause problems for a United side who hadn’t always stamped their authority in
that area. The determined Shaun Wright-Phillips ensured James Milner spent more
time defending than pushing on but, along with Didier Domi,
they did their best to keep the livewire in check throughout. Michael Tarnat caused similar problems on the left, but Jermaine Pennant and Gary Kelly combined to snuff out the
threat on their flank.
In the
middle there were some decisive touches from both Stephen McPhail
and Seth Johnson, but they were often outnumbered when City built attacks and
Antoine Sibierski frequently capitalized on the
numerical advantage. But it wasn’t about possession or who could play the
neatest patterns as far as
The fact
that Stephen McPhail’s opening goal came against the
run of play mattered little. The Irishman whipped in a left-foot free-kick
which deceived everyone and crept inside David James’ far post. Alan Smith
attempted to claim the goal after getting up well in the area, but there
appeared to be little contact made as the static James watched the ball drift
home. That was the cue for City to step things up and
It could
have been a killer goal given the tension inside the stadium, but for all their
early second half pressure the visitors were unable to find the goal their
possession probably merited.
The Belgian
had been all over Smith and Mark Viduka like a rash
and, up to then, Wiley had allowed him to stretch the laws of the game. But he
had no doubt in awarding a penalty after Van Buyten
clearly impeded the
It was a
decision that could easily have gone either way, but the assistant referee also
flagged and Wiley admitted after the game that he stood by his decision as
being correct. Van Buyten’s punishment was a harsh
red card and Mark Viduka stepped up to convert from
the spot. Up until then, the atmosphere had been tense, but spurred on by the
noise from the crowd, United worked their socks off
during the final fifteen minutes to secure the win.
The tempo rose a couple of notches as the final whistle drew near and
the ground literally erupted when Wiley called time on proceedings. A European
success would not have been greeted with more passion and, with new chairman
Gerald Krasner leading the celebrations from the
Directors’ Box, it ended as a night to savour. The
City players sank to their knees in disbelief, but they obviously had not read
the script.
Match Action:
Stephen McPhail
scored with a long distance free-kick and celebrated
Mark Viduka was on
hand to make sure Stephen McPhail’s free-kick found
the mark
Stephen McPhail and
Mark Viduka are happy at their success
Daniel Van Buyten
tackles Alan Smith on the edge of the penalty area and the referee gives a
penalty
Mark Viduka calmly
and coolly made sure from the spot
Mark Viduka sends
David James the wrong way from the spot Jermaine
Pennant congratulates Mark Viduka
Nicolas Anelka beats
Dominic Matteo to score and then celebrates Sylvain Distin
beats Alan Smith to a header
James Milner tries to dispossess Shaun
Wright-Phillips Alan Smith climbs high to beat Daniel Van Buyten and Antoine Sibierski
Mark Viduka cops it
in the neck from Richard Dunne Dominic
Matteo celebrates, as do several United
players
and the League table gave some hope New Chairman Gerald Krasner
is sombre as he stands close to Sven Goran Eriksen,
but cannot contain his joy when United score
Players:
Stephen McPhail’s free-kick
and Mark Viduka’s spot kick brought the United goals
while Nicolas Anelka replied for City
Dominic Matteo was
magnificent and Stephen Caldwell was impressive at the back Jermaine Pennant and Gary Kelly combined to
snuff out threat
James Milner had to defend Alan
Smith was fouled for Didier Domi had
his hands full Seth Johnson made decisive touches
the
penalty
In City’s line-up David James was in goal, Paul
Bosvelt and Michael Tarnat were in midfield
Daniel Van Buyten
came into the defence, while Arni
Gautur Arason and Trevor
Sinclair were unused substitutes