Having blown their Spanish counterparts away in the first leg at Elland Road just thirteen days earlier thanks to goals from Ian Harte, Alan Smith and Rio Ferdinand, United boarded the plane knowing they were on the cusp of something special. Leeds had been described as the weakest team left in the tournament by their opponents but after a phenomenal performance in the home leg Deportivo knew they had a battle on their hands. Nerves were needed for United's young charges as the Riazor stadium erupted just nine minutes into the match as Victor Sanchez was bundled to the floor by Harry Kewell inside the Whites box which Italian referee Stefano Braschi deemed enough reason to point to the spot. Djalminha sent Nigel Martyn the wrong way and it was game on. Deportivo hounded the United goal but O'Leary's men stood firm until the 73rd minute thanks to some brilliant defending and good fortune. Diego Tristan ensured a nervy finished following a foul from Lee Bowyer and some quick thinking from the hosts allowed the substitute to tap home at the near post. Leeds though, battled hard and thrust everyone behind the ball in the closing stages. After a tense final 17 minutes the final whistle came and sparked jubilant celebrations on the pitch and amongst the travelling fans as the Whites ran out 3-2 winners on aggregate. The quarter-final victory set up a final four clash with Valencia which Leeds would go on to lose 3-0 over the two legs.
