Malaga ... 0 Leeds United ... 0Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale faces into a turbulent club agm today, but at least he can go in armed with the knowledge that Terry Venables and his players are favourites to progress to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup after last night's scoreless draw in Malaga. And after recent poor results, that is no small comfort.
A minute's silence for the death of a former Malaga player pre-empted lat night's match which Malaga unsurprisingly started on the front foot, producing three incisive raids in the opening five minutes.
Each was dealt with efficiently, courtesy of timely defending from Jonathan Woodgate on two of those occasions and Michael Duberry the other before a mistake on the edge of his own area by Fernando Sanz in the ninth minute gave Leeds their first chance.
Harry Kewell was left with Pedro Contreras to beat but the Australian's attempted chip from 16 yards was woeful as the Spain international goalkeeper comfortably collected.
Malaga followed up with a searing left-foot half-volley from Raul Iznata which was straight down the throat of Paul Robinson after Alan Smith had headed clear a Sanz corner.
Leeds then broke with Jason Wilcox feeding a through-ball into Smith, and with a record of five goals in his last three games, the 22-year-old looked odds-on to score, only for his powerful drive to rebound off the legs of Contreras.
With confidence growing, Wilcox and Kewell then combined down the left, with the latter flashing in a cross through the six-yard box which unfortunately had too much pace on it for an arriving Smith at the far post.
When Lee Bowyer was brought down five yards outside the Malaga penalty area after being sandwiched by two defenders, it gave Ian Harte a perfect free-kick opportunity, only for the Republic of Ireland star to drive his shot straight into the wall.
There must have been consternation on the Leeds bench minutes later when Smith and Contreras went for a 50-50-ball just outside the Malaga area, with the Leeds striker lunging into the challenge.
Fortunately there was no contact and although Contreras went to ground holding his leg and a baying crowd demanded Smith's dismissal, the keeper had only fallen awkwardly.
In between Malaga wasted a fine opportunity when a Sandro quick free-kick picked out Kiki Musampa, but the Dutchman blazed over from 16 yards.
Just before the break Contreras was called upon to save his side again when Kewell rifled in an angled drive from a Wilcox pass, only for the shot to be punched away.
Malaga made a double substitution in the 63rd minute with Edgar replacing Manu Sanchez and Koke on for Iznata, but Leeds continued to hold firm. Smith did have a shot on the turn in the 70th minute, but from 18 yards it lacked power as Contreras was hardly extended.
MALAGA: Contreras, Roteta, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce, Romero, Josemi, Iznata, Manu, Sandro, Musampa, Dely Valdes. Subs Not Used: Rafa, Rojas, Litos, Edgar, Miguel Angel, Leko, Koke.
LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Duberry, Woodgate, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke, McPhail, Wilcox, Smith, Kewell. Subs Not Used: Martyn, Bridges, Okon, Burns, Richardson, Kilgallon. Booked: Smith.
Referee: A Trentalange (Italy).
