It was a great night for the Leeds team, particularly the Irish contingent, as United turned on a master class to the delight of their supporters and the Dublin crowd. With the absence of Rio Ferdinand, Eirik Bakke and Danny Mills with slight knocks, Gary Kelly took on the captaincy and Robbie Keane took centre stage with a superb display of the striker's art. He opened the scoring in the twenty-second minute after Lee Bowyer had burst through the defence to lay on a chance for the Irishman to shoot home from no more than three yards. Keane headed just wide moments later and Mark Viduka had a long range effort pushed away by Dublin keeper Paul Flood. The second was not long in coming and after Olivier Dacourt had started the move by setting Gary Kelly free down the right flank for his pin-point cross to be slid home from six yards by the effervescent Lee Bowyer. Eight minutes later it was 3-0 as Harry Kewell's trickery down the left allowed Lee Bowyer to get in another good shot, which Paul Flood could only parry. As the ball dropped it was Robbie Keane who reacted quickest to score his second with a spectacular overhead kick. Only good goalkeeping by Paul Flood stopped the score from rising rapidly as he saved from Harry Kewell and Ian Harte in quick succession. However, right on the stroke of half-time it was Ian Harte that got the fourth when he got in a towering header at the far post from another Lee Bowyer cross. David Batty replaced Olivier Dacourt, Michael Duberry came on for Lucas Radebe and Alan Smith replaced Harry Kewell at half-time and United changed formation to 4-3-3. The half was only six minutes old when Delaney stopped a Lee Bowyer shot with his hand and up stepped Robbie Keane to complete his hat-trick from the spot. On the hour, Jonathan Woodgate replaced Dominic Matteo. Robbie Keane saved his best goal for the last, as with quarter of an hour left, he took a pass from David Batty and jinked through the Dublin defence before clipping the ball over the advancing substitute keeper, Michael Dempsey, and into the net. Richie Foran got a consolation goal for Dublin. Danny Milosevic Jacob Burns, Eirik Bakke and Shane Cansdell-Sherriff remained unused on the Leeds bench.
Match Action:
Lee Bowyer shoots past Paul Flood
Gary Kelly and Robbie Keane run to congratulate Lee Bowyer on his goal
Gary Kelly and Robbie Keane congratulate Lee Bowyer on his goal
Harry Kewell takes on the Dublin defence
Robbie Keane cuts inside a Dublin defender
Robbie Keane scores his second with a spectacular overhead kick
Mark Viduka on the attack
David O'Leary and Brian Kidd savour victory
Programme:
Ticket: Courtesy Mark Ledgard
