Sport

`Maybury tackle disgraceful'

Leeds manager David O'Leary last night described as "disgraceful" the shocking tackle by Pavel Nedved which left Alan Maybury…

Thu Mar 15 2001 - 00:00

Leeds manager David O'Leary last night described as "disgraceful" the shocking tackle by Pavel Nedved which left Alan Maybury lucky to walk unaided out of Elland Road during their Group D match against Lazio.

Maybury was playing his first game for Leeds for almost three years due to injury problems but in the dying seconds he received a studs-first, knee-high challenge by Nedved which left him writhing in agony.

The 22-year-old hobbled off the pitch, helped by two of the club's physios, but Austrian referee Konrad Plautz had seconds earlier blown for a Lazio freekick. It led to Sinisa Mihajlovic conjuring up one of his freekicks in the third minute of injury time to give Lazio a 3-3 draw.

But O'Leary was not happy: "I thought it was a disgraceful challenge on Alan Maybury but what can I do about it? I don't want to get into any trouble. It was a disappointing end, but that's life." Nedved apologised to Maybury after the match and he was glad to accept.

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"There was a shooting pain down my leg and I panicked more that anything else," said Maybury. "It was just a kick more than anything else. I don't think there was any real damage done." Fabrizio Ravanelli had given Lazio a 21st-minute lead only for Lee Bowyer to equalise six minutes later.

A push by Dominic Matteo on Ravanelli lead to Mihajlovic scoring from the spot on the half hour but Leeds again equalised just before the break through Wilcox. Mark Viduka gave United a deserved 62nd-minute lead before the late score from Mihajlovic.

Leeds United: Robinson, Kelly, Harte, Mills, Matteo, Bowyer, Burns, Maybury (Batty 90), Wilcox, Viduka (Hackworth 64), Kewell. Subs not used: Dacourt, Woodgate, Hay, Milosevic. Booked: Matteo. Goals: Bowyer 28, Wilcox 43, Viduka 62.

Lazio: Marchegiani, Colonnese, Mihajlovic, Couto, Stankovic, Castroman (Ruggiu 88), Baronio, Pesaresi, Nedved, Lopez (Salas 74), Ravanelli. Subs not used: Orlandoni, Negro, Crespo, Pancaro, Luciani. Booked: Colonnese, Castroman, Stankovic. Goals: Ravanelli 21, Mihajlovic 29 pen, 90.

Referee: K Plautz (Austria).