Leeds United Valencia CF
1) MARTYN Nigel (GK) 1) CANIZARES (GK)
3) HARTE Ian 2) PELLEGRNO Mauricio
4) DACOURT Olivier * 6) MENDIETTA Gaizka (C) *
9) VIDUKA Marko 7) CAREW John
10) KEWELL Harry 12) AYALA Roberto
11) BOWYER Lee 15) CARBONI Amedeo
17) SMITH Alan * 17) SANCHEZ Juan
18) MILLS Danny 18) KILY GONZALEZ *
21) MATTEO Dominic * 19) BARAJA Ruben *
23) BATTY David * 20) ANGLOMA Jocelyn
29) FERDINAND Rio (C) 23) ALBELDA *
13) ROBINSON Paul (GK) 25) PALOP (GK)
2) KELLY Gary 4) DESCHAMPS Didier
6) WOODGATE Jon 5) DJUKIC Miroslav
14) McPHAIL Stephen 8) ZAHOVIC Zlatko
16) WILCOX Jason 14) VICENTE
19) BAKKE Eirik * 34) FABIO AURELIO Rodriguez
25) BURNS Jacob 35) AIMAR Pablo Cesar
* Misses next match if booked.
Coach CUPER Hector Raul
Referee: COLLINA Pierluigi (ITA)
Leeds line up Valencia CF line up
First half Second half
Top-scorers (After S/F 1st leg) |
| Goals | Player | Club | App's | Mins played |
| 7 | RAUL | Real Madrid | 11 | 905' |
| 6 | LEE BOWYER | LEEDS UNITED | 13 | 1170' |
| 6 | HELGUERA | Real Madrid | 13 | 1142' |
| 6 | JARDEL | Galatasary | 14 | 1240' |
| 6 | RIVALDO | FC Barcelona | 6 | 522' |
| 6 | Paul Scholes | Man Utd | 12 | 1042' |
| 6 | Marco Simeone | AS Monaco | 6 | 505' |
| 5 | Nicolas Anelka | PSG | 9 | 734' |
Leeds United 0-0 Valencia
"Leeds United's hopes of reaching the Champions League Final hang in the balance after a goal-less stalemate against Valencia at Elland Road."
Boss David O'Leary's young side had opportunities to secure a precious lead in the semi-final first leg with a vibrant second half performance that tested last year's beaten finalists to the limit.
But Valencia had chances of their own, and Leeds were grateful to two brilliant saves from England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.
Leeds will take heart from keeping a clean sheet that still gives them real hope of progress in next week's second leg in Spain, with both sides were saved by the woodwIt was going to be tough, but we have played against very good side and upped the tempo in the second half.
Leeds were driven on by a crackling Elland Road atmosphere - but it was Valencia who created the better first half opportunities.
Ian Harte gave Leeds hope in the third minute with a trademark long range shot that was turned over by Valencia keeper Canizares.
But it was opposite number Martyn who took the honours with two brilliant first half saves.
He denied Arsenal's quarter-final conqueror John Carew with a brilliant diving save to his left from an acrobatic overhead kick after a cross from Juan Sanchez.
Martyn was powerless when Gaizka Mendieta put a header on target after 17 minutes, but he watched with relief as it rebounded to safety off the crossbar.
Leeds finally created a chance of their own seven minutes before half time when Harte's free-kick was headed across the face of goal by Harry Kewell.
Rio Ferdinand had the first telling touch, but Alan Smith somehow diverted the final header wide from only two yards.
Valencia had the final say of a high-quality first half when Ferdinand's poor header was picked up by Sanchez, who forced another fine diving save from Martyn.
Leeds started the second half intent on putting pressure on the experienced Valencia rearguard.
And it took a brilliant one-handed clawing save off the line from Canizares to stop Dominic Matteo scoring with another goalmouth header.
Leeds appealed that the ball had crossed the line, but Italian referee Pierluigi Collina waved away the protests.
O'Leary's side had Valencia rocking - and Bowyer was agonisingly denied by the woodwork after 69 minutes.
Smith's chip left Canizares stranded, and when Viduka failed to make contact inside the six-yard area Bowyer looked certain to score only to head against the bar with the goalkeeper out of position.
Leeds had shown the maturity they have demonstrated throughout their Champions League campaign to force Valencia - last year's beaten finalists - on to the defensive.
The lively Smith tested Canizares again with 11 minutes left with an instant right foot volley, but the experienced Valencia keeper was reliable once more.
Norwegian Carew wasted a great chance with four minutes left when he could only apply a half-hearted finish to Mendieta's cross.
But Leeds responded almost immediately and Smith headed over the top when well-placed from Danny Mills' cross.
Valancia almost snatched a win deep into injury time, but Ferdinand headed off the line from substitute Vicente.
It ended honours even - the right result that leaves Leeds still harbouring hopes of reaching the final.
And Leeds will be boosted because Valencia will be without key players Ruben Baraja and Amedeo Carboni, who will be suspended after picking up bookings at Elland Road.
UEFA Press information:
Leeds United's intensive course in Spanish geaography has, in fact, produced some of the worst results of their distinguished campaign. The six matches played against Spanish opposition have produced one victory, one draw and four defeats.
Leeds United have Eirik Bakke, David Batty, Olivier Dacourt, Dominic Matteo and Alan Smith in the same situation.
"We're not in the last four just to make up the numbers," David O'Leary commented in a press interview at the weekend. "The advantage will be with valencia and that's not talking us down - that's life. But we have'nt got this far just to say how great it is to be in the last four. We want to get to the final, and if we get in it, we want to win it because we have the hunger to do it and we may never get the chance again."
"I take great pride in the fact that we are the only club in the semis," he added in the same interview. "Nobody would have picked us to be in the last four and Valencia have gone along in the same way. I was really excited by them when i watched the Champions league last season. They were great to watch. In the end they should have won it, but they came up against an unbelievable side in the final. I think that Valencia, the way they were playng then, would have beaten any other side. They are very well organised and like us they work hard and play as a team. I think the scores between us will be very close."
The Valencia CF expedition travelled to England on Monday, settling up their headquarters at the Marriott hotel. Initially Hector Cuper planned to hold his pre-match press conferance at the hotel but he was reminded that holding it at the stadium brought them good luck in last season's semi-final. The press conferance is therefore at 11:30 on Tuesday in the Jackie Charlton suite at Elland road.
Real Madrid 1 Bayern Munich 3