Leeds United picked up a vital if fortuitous 0-0 draw against AS Roma in their UEFA Cup fourth round first-leg tie at the Olympic Stadium in Rome last night. Leeds have every reason to be satisfied with their night's work, but the reality is that Roma have only themselves to blame.

In football, all that matters in the end is getting the ball into the net. That was the one thing that a dominant Roma failed to do. To say that this match was one-sided would be a bit like calling the Charge of the Light Brigade ill-advised.

Apart from three shots from their talented Australian striker, Harry Kewell, Leeds were never in the match. Their role was that of the semi-idle bystander, run ragged by a dominant Roma side that created chance after chance only to either squander them or to see them saved by Leeds' excellent goalkeeper, Nigel Martyn. Martin was by far the best Leeds player on the night.

Ironically, the first chance of the game went to Leeds in the third minute. Irishman Gary Kelly did the damage, making good ground down the right side before sending in a splendid cross which Norwegian Eirik Bakke headed onto the feet of the Roma goalkeeper, Francesco Antonioli.

Along with a splendid shot from Kewell in the 29th minute, that was that as far as Leeds' pretence towards attacking soccer was concerned. After a strangely nervous start that perhaps owed much to a 2-1 defeat by Juventus last Sunday night, Roma settled into their game midway through the first half, laying on a display of confident flowing soccer that seemed on the point of overwhelming Leeds. However, sloppy finishing, some solid Leeds defensive work plus a tremendous performance from goalkeeper Martyn sent the visitors in on a flattering 0-0 scoreline at half-time.

Perhaps the biggest danger run by Leeds all night had come in the 22nd minute when Roma striker, Marco Delvecchio, appeared to take a dive after beating Martyn to a through ball. French referee, Gilles Veissiere, however, was not to be fooled, awarding a Leeds goal kick.

Roma continued to press in the second half and Vincenzo Montella, Francesco Totti, Delvecchio and Japanese player Hidetoshi Nakata all shot wide or straight into Martyn's arms. When Totti knocked in a delicate chip in the 77th minute only to see it go narrowly wide with Martyn for once well beaten, it became clear that this was simply not going to be Roma's night.

Modest Martyn claimed afterwards that most of Roma's shots on goal were straight at him. "They made it very hard for us all the way through. It was pleasing but it was fortunate that a lot of shots were straight at me and I just had to make sure the sheet was kept clean," he said.

The home team finished the evening in utter frustration while Leeds ended with a golden away draw that understandably left their 5,000-strong contingent of fans deliriously happy.

The Leeds manager, David O'Leary, said: "They have played (his players) here in one of the biggest stadiums in the world and against some of the best players in the world and they did themselves proud. I am delighted for them."

The good news for Leeds is that they can expect to play much better in the return leg next week at Elland Road. The bad news is that Roma will also expect to play much better.

ROMA: Antonioli, Mangone, Aldair, Zago, Cafu, Tommasi, Nakata, Candela, Totti, Delvecchio, Montella. Subs Not Used: Lupatelli, Di Francesco, Blasi, Tomic, Gourenko, Rinaldi, Pereira.

LEEDS: Martyn, Kelly, Woodgate, Haaland, Radebe, Harte, Bakke, Bowyer, Jones, Kewell, Bridges (Smith 71). Subs Not Used: Robinson, Hopkin, Huckerby, Mills, Duberry, Maybury. Booked: Radebe.

Referee: G Veissiere (France).