Malaga end Leeds' dream of Euro glory

Leeds 1

Despite their resolute no-score draw in Spain, Leeds never looked like overcoming their La Liga opponents in the UEFA Cup third-round second-leg and fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Two goals from Dely Valdes, either side of an Eirik Bakke strike, heaped more pressure on under-fire Venables.

The hosts' woe was compounded by the unlucky Michael Bridges rupturing an Achilles tendon after just four minutes, giving the striker yet another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

The 24-year-old in only his second start of the season after almost two years out with knee and ankle injuries ruptured his Achilles tendon in an innocuous-looking incident after just four minutes and was stretchered off.

His departure did, however, mean an early introduction for Fowler, just back in the first team after a prolonged period out with a hip injury.

And Leeds' night took a turn for the worse in the 14th minute, when Danny Mills was beaten easily by Musampa down the left flank, and his cross was turned in by Dely Valdes for a crucial away goal for the visitors.

Two minutes later Lee Bowyer was involved in an ugly incident near the halfway line, appearing to stamp on Gerardo's head after a reckless challenge for which the Leeds man was booked.

Visiting players immediately surrounded midfielder Bowyer with Gerardo writhing in obvious discomfort on the pitch, and referee Massimo Busacca brandished a yellow card.

But just as it seemed to be turning into another nightmare night for Leeds and Venables, the home side levelled in the 24th minute.

Gary Kelly's in-swinging ball from the left appeared to have been cleared to safety off the head of a defender, but Fowler deftly retrieved it from near the byline, hoisting it back into the six-yard box where Eirik Bakke was on hand to volley home.

Leeds started the second half brightly and were inches away from taking the lead in the 47th minute. Bursting down the right, Alan Smith delivered a superb cross, but Bowyer's header flashed just wide of the near post.

Attack was now definitely the only policy for Venables' men as a score draw would mean their exit from the competition. The Spaniards were already employing delaying tactics at every opportunity.

To make matters worse tension in the home side seemed to be spilling over, with Jason Wilcox and Gary Kelly engaging in a furious argument.

The ref had to be alert to the canny visitors, and Fernando Sanz became the fourth Spaniard to be yellow-carded after he threw the ball away.

Meanwhile, Paul Robinson, having another excellent night between the posts, had to stretch to save Musampa's powerful 20-yard shot. However, Leeds' fate was sealed 10 minutes from time as Valdes turned brilliantly inside Jonathan Woodgate and then fired an unstoppable volley past Robinson.

Smith had a chance to drag the hosts level again when he found himself unmarked eight yards out, but his low shot was held by Pedro Contreras.