UEFA CUP: Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has one of the biggest names in European football and it is a very hard one for Leeds United to swallow this morning. With the prospect of extra-time and penalties coming closer last night, the PSV Eindhoven centre forward leapt at a Theo Lucius shot that had come back off the crossbar to force the ball across the line. There were 51 seconds left.
This was a slow burner of a contest, one in which PSV got stronger and Leeds weaker, but David O'Leary saw another of his much-mentioned candles blown out by Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Last night began in similar fashion to the first leg last week - goalless again, yet open and highly entertaining. As in Holland, too, the PSV right-winger Dennis Rommedahl started at a sprint, the Dutch still fancying his chances in a race against Ian Harte.
Rommedahl's prominence must have concerned O'Leary, though the visibility of Mark Viduka and Alan Smith in the first half-hour told of Leeds' confident approach.
With Lee Bowyer influential in central midfield, Eirik Bakke had a couple of speculative shots, before Viduka had a 12th-minute flick saved by Patrick Lodewijks.
Harry Kewell emerged as a key individual after that. In the 20th minute he exchanged a slick one-two with Viduka and sent an exquisite right-foot shot curling round Lodewijks. Unfortunately for Kewell and Leeds, the ball shaved the outside of a post.
If that was Kewell at his best, shortly afterwards the Australian showed a different side. Viduka was again the creator, charging on to Danny Mills' 50-yard pass and reaching the byline. From there Viduka found Kewell arriving late at the back. But Kewell, 10 yards out, skied his drive.
For a while, PSV assumed nonchalant control. Rommedahl was to the fore once more as chances fell to Andre Ooijer, who went close with a header, and Theo Lucius, who shot narrowly wide.
But the half ended on a high note for Leeds, a great move instigated by Rio Ferdinand's dashing run featuring Gary Kelly and Viduka before Bakke drilled in a 20-yard shot that flew just over. Kewell came out with his gloves on for the second half, even if a surge down the left to win a corner suggested the opposite. But Leeds squandered that and Bowyer put a header wide following impressive running from Kelly.
PSV were now playing with even more enterprise than before the interval. There were times when Leeds had all 11 men in their own half behind the ball as Mark van Bommel knitted things together to dangerous effect.
Needless to say van Bommel was the originator of the attack and immediately set another on its way with a clipped pass to Rommedahl. The nippy winger rocked Martyn on to his heels. The balance of power had changed - Ferdinand made a big block on Kezman - and Leeds had to discover a way of regaining the momentum.
Guardian Service
LEEDS: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Kelly, Bowyer, Bakke, Kewell, Smith, Viduka. Subs Not Used: Robinson, Keane, McPhail, Wilcox, Duberry, Batty, Burns. Booked: Kelly.
PSV: Lodewijks, Bogelund, Ooijer, Hofland, Bouma, Rommedahl, Vogel, van Bommel, Lucius, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Gakhokidze 90), Kezman. Subs Not Used: Coutinho, Faber, Ramzi, de Jong, Addo, Nikiforov. Booked: Bouma. Goals: Vennegoor of Hesselink 90.
Referee: Antonio Jesus Lopez Nieto (Malaga).
PSV win 1-0 on agg.
