Barmby's strike saves Leeds from embarrassment

Metalurg Zaporizhya 1 Leeds United 1 Leeds win 2-1 on aggregate

The bookmakers who saw fit to make Leeds United co-favourites with Lazio for the Uefa Cup at the start of the season will surely reconsider their odds this morning after Terry Venables' side scraped through to the second round against hitherto unregarded Ukrainian opponents here at the Meteor stadium yesterday.

Metalurg Zaporizhya, who had held Leeds at bay for 80 minutes in the first leg at Elland Road, were within 13 minutes of taking the tie into extra time before Nick Barmby scrambled the ball home from close range after Alan Smith's header had been deflected on the line.

The Ukrainians were reduced to 10 men by the end when Uros Milosavljevic was sent off, apparently for spitting at Barmby, but the Leeds manager's relief at the final whistle was evident.

"They played well with the tactics they laid out," Venables said. "With everyone behind the ball they made it difficult for us. But it's not a matter of how you get through, it's about getting through. We played with discipline and I am very happy with the result."

The game was being played on a neutral ground 50 miles from Zaporizhya, apparently because the Ukrainians' ground did not meet the standards of Uefa, European football's governing body. However, the bumpy surface at the Meteor stadium presented its own difficulties and, along with the "home" team's strong-arm tactics, Leeds struggled to adjust.

Venables made a number of changes, dropping Mark Viduka and Olivier Dacourt to the bench. The former England coach opted for an attacking trio of Harry Kewell, Alan Smith and Lee Bowyer. Yet, despite their undoubted skill and guile, they lacked the power to break down a compact defence.

Leeds were stunned when they conceded a goal after 24 minutes. The Brazilian winger Fabio Vasconcelos, given time and space, curled a stunning 25-yard left-foot shot on to the angle of bar and post, with the Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson comprehensively beaten.

The Leeds defence then stood and watched as Irakli Modebadze looped the rebound header back over the England Under-21 goalkeeper from eight yards to make the aggregate score 1-1 and spark wild scenes on the bench and the pitch.

Within moments, Leeds had the opportunity to regain the initiative as Ian Harte flicked on a Barmby corner for Dominic Matteo to fire in a 10-yard half-volley which Andriy Gluschenko held on to. But that was as much as Leeds could muster as they toiled against their seemingly weaker opponents until Barmby's crucial strike. A low Kewell cross from the goal-line was headed goalwards by Smith for Barmby – in what appeared to be an offside position – to tap home from three yards.

In the 80th minute, Milosavljevic was sent off, although more players could have joined him in a bad-tempered finale.

"I was a little surprised that the referee was so lenient," Venables said. "I am pleased more than anything that we have not sustained any more injuries, though we've plenty of bruises."

Metalurg Zaporizhya: Glushchenko; Valuta, Dodic, Raty, Visevic, Vasconcelos, Klyuchyk, Milosavljevic, Akopyan, Lapko, Modebadze. Substitutes not used: Zolna (gk), Savinov, Baston, Toledo, Bianchim Hansen, Ivashchenko, Zayats.

Leeds United: Robinson; Kelly, Mills, Matteo (Duberry, 90), Harte, Bakke, McPhail, Barmby, Bowyer, Smith, Kewell. Substitutes not used: Martyn (gk), Viduka, Okon, Burns, McMaster, Dacourt.

Referee: M Bosat (Turkey).