Soccer: Leeds hang on to reach semis

Leeds booked a date with Valencia in the semi-finals of the Champions League but only after being blitzed by Deportivo La Coruna.

David O'Leary's side held a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg at Elland Road.

Yet they were beaten 2-0 by the Spanish champions and hanging on for dear life at the end of a 90-minute battering at the Riazor Stadium.

United, though, somehow survived, and can now look forward to their fourth trip to Spain this season against the conquerors of Arsenal.

Deportivo coach Javier Irureta had warned Leeds before the match they would "have to shed blood, sweat and tears" to reach the semi final, and so it proved as the nerve-wracking tension did not relent from the first minute to the last.

Leeds got off to the worst possible start when Harry Kewell pushed Victor in the ninth minute and Djalminha slotted home the resultant penalty.

Wave after wave of attacks led to chance after chance as the likes of Roy Makaay, Walter Pandiani, Romero and Manuel Pablo lined up for the opportunities.

It was more by luck than by design Leeds somehow managed to hold firm until the break, with Nigel Martyn only forced to make one save of any significant note as he superbly plucked a Makaay header out of the air.

Then came the moment Leeds fans had been praying for having spent most of their time sat on the edge of their seats, one which should have sealed the tie, only for Alan Smith to be guilty of wasting a gilt-edged chance.

Having done brilliantly to intercept Donato's bad back pass and then round Molina, the 20-year-old chose to shoot from a narrow angle, firing into the sidenetting with an unmarked Mark Viduka screaming for the pull back as he stood alone by the penalty spot.

After the interval, Ian Harte was forced to clear a Fran cross from the left wing from underneath his own crossbar, before Martyn then saved in spectacular fashion, with the 34-year-old at full stretch in tipping a Romero drive onto the bar.

The combination of Martyn and the woodwork combined again in the 70th minute, this time in denying Holland international Makaay with a bullet header from point-blank range.

It was no surprise when the second goal finally came three minutes later as two of Deportivo's substitutes combined beautifully following a quickly worked free-kick.

Valeron's piercing low ball from the left-wing was stabbed home at the near post by Tristan.

But try as they might, Deportivo couldn't force extra time in a frantic closing 20 minutes.

Leeds are now just a potential 180 minutes away from the Champions League final.