Leeds Utd - 1 Hapoel Tel-Aviv - 0 Languishing in their worst Premiership position for almost two years, Leeds United found solace in the form of Harry Kewell's late but decisive contribution here last night.

His winning goal did not disguise the fact that this was another poor and largely frustrating performance from Terry Venables' team, but at least they have rediscovered the winning touch.

This was their first victory in seven attempts and they will head to Florence for the second leg in 13 days - UEFA has decreed that it cannot be held in Israel because of the security implications - in the knowledge that only an embarrassing collapse will prevent them from reaching the third round.

Yet for long spells, particularly in the first half, Leeds had done little to appease the supporters who have turned on them in recent weeks.

There is a sense of disillusionment at Elland Road and it threatens to descend into open mutiny. Venables has reiterated the need for patience, but the players are not endearing themselves to the supporters, and if the former England coach is to resurrect the team's faltering season, he will have to eradicate the nervousness so evident last night.

While the Leeds players were laboured and hesitant, as if the six-week gap since their last Premiership victory was playing havoc with their nerves, their opponents attacked with equal measures of guile and self-belief.

Leeds attacked only spasmodically, their play laced with trepidation, but the west Yorkshire club still struck the woodwork twice during a first half in which it swiftly became clear that their route to the third round was anything but a formality.

Mark Viduka teed up Nick Barmby for an overhead kick that was executed superbly, only for the ball to ricochet off the base of Shavit Elimlech's right-hand post. Then Viduka, flitting in and out once again, struck the top of the crossbar with a free-kick from 20 yards.

Venables and his players headed down the tunnel at half-time to an increasingly familiar sound: boos. There would be more moments of anxiety to come, but at least the home side, missing Lee Bowyer through flu and with Danny Mills rested, emerged after the interval with a greater sense of adventure.

Within five minutes Harry Kewell and Eirik Bakke, with a header apiece, had extended Elimelech more than he had been throughout the entire first half.

This was the catalyst for their best spell, with Ian Harte, restored at the expense of the ineligible Teddy Lucic, flicking the angle of crossbar and post with a typically venomous free-kick just before the hour.

By the time the winning goal arrived, however, it seemed as though Leeds were running out of ideas. Viduka started the forward thrust, playing a bouncing ball into Alan Smith inside the penalty area. Smith hooked the ball over his head and Kewell lashed in a shot that took a slight deflection off Igal Antebi to find the bottom corner.

LEEDS UNITED: Robinson, Kelly, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Barmby (Bridges 70), Dacourt (McPhail 65), Bakke, Kewell, Smith, Viduka (Mills 90). Subs Not Used: Martyn, Duberry, McMaster, Singh. Booked: Bakke, Radebe, Smith. Goal: Kewell 82.

HAPOEL TEL-AVIV: Elimelech, Halis, Gershon, Halmai (Abutbul 65), Antebi, Domb, Toema, Afek, Abuksis, Balili (Udi 83), Welton (Clescenko 59). Subs Not Used: Salem, Halfon, Luz, Saban. Booked: Toema, Domb.

Referee: Jack Van Hulten (Holland).