PSV Eindhoven 0 Leeds United 0
Leeds United put their domestic misery behind them this evening with in an impressive performance away to PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their fourth round Uefa Cup.
David O'Leary's side, who were Champions League semi-finalists last season, showed off their European experience by soaking up the early Dutch pressure and then went looking for the winner.
Eindhoven were left frustrated by a well-disciplined Leeds outfit who will consider themselves unlucky not to have grabbed at least one goal to take back to Elland Road for the second leg next week.
They went into the game in the Philips Stadium with Lee Bowyer, Alan Smith and Danny Mills back in the team despite the trio serving domestic bans. However, midfield man David Batty, who made the trip to the Netherlands by ferry because of his growing fear of flying, started on the bench while former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler was ineligible.
Leeds were in debt to their England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn who twice pulled off impressive saves in the opening minutes of the game to deny PSV dangerman Marc van Bommel.
Van Bommel, reportedly a transfer target of Arsenal, had a quiet evening as Leeds refused to sit back and allow the Dutch attackers to dictate the game. Martyn would have been happy with his efforts early on in front of watching England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Leeds pressed forward and Australian international Mark Viduka thought he had opened the scoring in the 22nd minute but his header was spectacularly cleared off the line by Jan Vennegoor.
Just three minutes later, Dominic Matteo had to be just as alert when he too cleared a goal-bound attempt by Arnold Bruggink but there were claims by the home side that the Leeds defender used his arm to divert the ball over the bar.
Leeds remained positive at the start of the second period with Harry Kewell bringing a fine save from Patrick Lodewijks in the PSV goal. Viduka was a handful for the Eindhoven defence who struggled to cope with the big Australian striker and he was almost in on goal on 63 minutes before being denied by a last-ditch tackle.
Five minutes later, Bowyer saw a shot go wide when Smith was screaming for the ball to be played back.
Leeds were by far the better side in the second half as they easily coped with the fragmented attacks of Eindhoven and, on the evidence of this performance will be favourites to progress to the quarter-finals after the second leg.