With a belligerent swagger that defied their inexperience on the European circuit, David O'Leary's youthful side contemptuously dismissed the challenge of Partizan Belgrade in Holland yesterday afternoon courtesy of a courageous fight-back capped by two goals from Lee Bowyer and one from Lucas Radebe.
Now, only a collapse of calamitous proportions at Elland Road can deny Leeds a place in the second round.
"It's a fantastic result for us," the Leeds manager said afterwards. "I was a bit scared beforehand because I hardly knew anything about their team, but we handled the situation admirably. We have put ourselves in a great position." The political turmoil over Kosovo had made it predictable that this tie would be switched to a neutral venue, although the manner in which it was handled had made UEFA a common enemy for both clubs.
Visa restrictions had also prevented Leeds officials from travelling to Yugoslavia to monitor their opponents' early season progress.
The first time O'Leary set eyes on the Partizan players was the moment the supposed hosts trotted out for the warm-up. Hardly ideal preparation, although at least O'Leary could rely on a scouting report from David Batty.
The Leeds midfielder was a member of the Newcastle side removed from last season's Cup Winners' Cup by Partizan, the Yorkshireman conceding the penalty which was to prove their undoing.
Bearing in mind the background it was not hard to appreciate the surreal atmosphere. Apart from the 3,000 Leeds fans, the Lego-like stands were virtually empty, aside from an exuberant pocket of Partizan followers most of whom had travelled from a refugee camp situated not 200 yards from the ground.
O'Leary had been conspicuously uncomfortable, and the Irishman's concerns appeared to be well-grounded as Partizan seized the initiative in a game played at the kind of breakneck speed more associated with the Premiership.
Mateja Kezman eluded Danny Mills and hit a half-hearted shot that should have been gathered easily by Nigel Martyn. Inexplicably the England goalkeeper fumbled the ball and Dored Tomic gratefully smashed in the rebound.
Bowyer levelled matters six minutes later with a fierce leftfoot effort and Martyn redeemed himself within 90 seconds with a fine penalty save to deny Vuk Rasovic after Radebe tripped Kezman. The action was relentless and it was Leeds who were posing the more serious questions.
The quality of Leeds's football was even more impressive considering Partizan had been unbeaten in 27 league matches, and the Elland Road club's adventurous play was rewarded by a Radebe goal six minutes before the interval.
The defender ghosted upfield and, despite falling in the box, hooked a shot into the roof of the net after the defence failed to clear Ian Harte's free-kick.
"I think we're going to have to start practising those in training; scoring on your backside," O'Leary added.
Leeds remained in control throughout the second period and Bowyer rounded off matters with a weak left-foot drive which slipped through the grasp of Partizan's suspect goalkeeper Nikola Damjanac eight minutes from time.
PARTIZAN BELGRADE: Damjanac, Savic, Rasovic, Stanojevic, Krstajic, Trobok, Ivic (Stojakovic 88), Ilic (Gerasimovski 82), Tomic, Iliev (Pekovic 69), Kezman. Subs Not Used: Duljaj, Vukovic, Pantic, Miskovic. Booked: Trobok. Goals: Tomic 20.
LEEDS: Martyn, Mills, Woodgate, Radebe, Harte, Kelly, Bowyer, Batty, Hopkin, Kewell, Bridges (Smith 70). Subs Not Used: Haaland, Huckerby, Robinson, Bakke, Hiden, Hay. Booked: Radebe, Bowyer, Bridges. Goals: Bowyer 26, Radebe 39, Bowyer 82.
Referee: H Fandel (Germany).
