Smith strikes sink Tel Aviv

Hapoel Tel-Aviv 1, Leeds 4 (Leeds win 5-1 on aggregate)

Alan Smith rammed the taunts of the Hapoel Tel-Aviv players back down their throats as he let his football do the talking by scoring all four goals to send Leeds through to the third round of the UEFA Cup.

Before this match, Hapoel captain Shimon Gershon and team-mate Josef Abukasis had both described Smith as one of the dirtiest players they had encountered in European football.

Venables had urged Smith to respond as any fine striker would, to hurt Hapoel with his football, and the England international did exactly that as he had the final word by scoring the first hat-trick of his senior career.

Hapoel were then reduced to 10 men when one of Smith’s pre-game detractors in Abukasis was dismissed for a second bookable offence 11 minutes from time.

Smith then added his and Leeds’ fourth by heading home a Kewell cross from inside the six-yard box with seven minutes remaining.