Leeds found the route to the UEFA Cup semi-finals paved with a few frights last night but in the end achieved the purpose of their trip in style: to become the first Leeds side to reach a European semi-final since Jimmy Armfield's days in office 25 years ago.
Defeat in the Czech capital could do little to dilute the sense of destiny developing in David O'Leary's youthful side after emerging battered and bruised, to seal a 4-2 aggregate victory. The tantalising prospect of a European showdown against Arsenal could be delivered by today's draw.
Even allowing for the inexperience in the Leeds ranks - the average age of the outfield players being under 23 - they knew that only a capitulation of epic proportions would stop them in their tracks.
That said, Slavia Prague's record was not something to be sniffed at. They had won all four of their previous home games in Europe and boast a four-point advantage over city rivals Sparta at the top of the Czech league, having been unbeaten in their opening 21 matches.
Yet O'Leary's durable charges have already proved intrepid travellers in Europe and the luxury of a 3-0 cushion from the previous week's first leg at Elland Road ensured they could trumpet their growing claims to a place in the Euro elite with only a minimal risk of embarrassment.
The expanses of empty seats in the Stadion Evzen Rosicky decaying concrete bowl were testament to the fact that Slavia had accepted their chances of progressing were slim.
Had Stephen McPhail not seen an early opening smothered by the home goalkeeper Radek Cerny, the outcome would have been a formality before most of the players had even muddied their knees. As it was, There were few moments of anxiety for Leeds.
All the home side could muster were the sort of long-range efforts that suggested desperation on their part. In goal Nigel Martyn found himself in the role of a spectator for long, reassuring spells.
If Leeds harboured any lingering nerves, it was scarcely evident. Unfortunately, their finishing was equally extravagant. Kewell was the most culpable when he was presented an open goal by Michael Bridges only to spoon the ball over the crossbar from all of three yards.
Kewell made amends a minute into the second half. McPhail's measured through ball was weighted to perfection and the instinctive first time shot from just inside the penalty area possessed both power and precision for the forward's 15th goal of an increasingly productive season.
However Ivo Ulich punished some hesitant marking five minutes later with a low drive beyond Martyn. Then, much to O'Leary's irritation, Ulich put the home side in front from the spot 12 minutes from time after Ian Harte was adjudged to have illegally challenged Ludek Zelenka.
LEEDS: Martyn, Woodgate, Haaland, Radebe, Kelly, Bakke, Jones, McPhail, Harte, Bridges (Smith 50), Kewell. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Hopkin, Huckerby, Mills, Duberry, Wilcox. Goals: Kewell 47.
SLAVIA Prague: P Cerny, Kozek, L Dosek, Koller, Hysky, Ulich, Dostalek (Lerch 53), Skala, Kuchar (Vozabal 85), T Dosek (Vagner 53), Zelenka. Subs Not Used: Kristofik, Vaclavik. Booked: Koller, Lerch. Goals: Ulich 52, 79 pen.
Referee: Sarvan Ozun (Turkey).
