The "weakest team" remaining in the Champions League remarkably have one foot in the semi-finals after destroying Deportivo La Coruna with another display of fearless football.

Deportivo midfielder Victor had claimed before this quarter-final first leg Leeds were the weakest of the eight clubs left in the competition - but not for the first time this season a large slice of humble pie was duly eaten.

Leeds have proven over the course of what manager David O'Leary has so often hailed as his side's "wonderful adventure" they have no respect for big-name reputations as Barcelona, AC Milan, Lazio and Anderlecht will testify this season.

All have fallen by the wayside, while Leeds have marched on, playing their flowing game which has led to them becoming quickly revered on the continent - and they again showed their style against last season's La Liga champions.

It was Deportivo's first Spanish title in their 92-year history, with Real Madrid having finished five points adrift in second, with those positions currently reversed as La Coruna are making a brave bid in defending their crown.

But this was their worst defeat of the season as O'Leary's stars shone on another European night of glory at Elland Road, of which there have been many in the last two seasons.

In the four games against Barcelona and Real Madrid this season in the two previous group stages, Leeds had lost three and drawn one, giving way to Victor's jibes and so providing O'Leary with his pre-match team talk.

Anderlecht coach Aime Anthuensis criticised Leeds after his team's 2-1 defeat at Elland Road in February - with United duly handing out a 4-1 hammering in the return a week later as they again did their talking on the pitch.

Before the match Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale had described it as the club's most important since the 1975 European Cup final, and in the end it was one to savour for all connected with the club.

Deportivo arrived at Elland Road renowned for their composed, patient passing game and in the opening minutes they underlined such claims as they stroked the ball around the Elland Road pitch.

But a seventh-minute left-foot snapshot aside from Brazilian star Djalminha apart, it was Leeds who attacked with pace and venom, pressuring their opponents and so the chances soon followed.

From the moment Harte cracked a swerving 25-yard left-foot shot which Francisco Molina initially spilled before claiming the ball at the second attempt, it was all Leeds.

Harte then provided a brilliant crossfield ball from left to right for Lee Bowyer just inside the area, with the midfielder looking to become the tournament's outright leading scorer.

Bowyer was forced to make another desperate dash from Hull Crown Court, where the trial with team-mates Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Duberry continues.

The 24-year-old should have added to his tally of six goals, but after an initial chest trap to take him away from covering defender Cesar, Molina produced an excellent block at point-blank range.

Harry Kewell then turned inside Pedro Duscher and then Manuel Pablo before an attempted acutely-angled chip over Molina just cleared the bar.

Then in the 26th minute Harte netted his free-kick after Smith had been brought down just outside the area by Cesar.

It allowed Harte to deliver a vicious left-foot thunderbolt over the head of the outstretched fingertips of Molina for his eighth goal of the season and his fourth in Europe.

The majority of the 35,508 crowd were again on their feet six minutes into the second half to salute Smith's 15th goal of the season, his seventh in Europe, and his sixth in the last six matches.

Harte's ball from the byline out wide on the left was delivered perfectly for Smith to run onto and plant a low header beyond Molina.

And midway through the half it was 3-0 as early second-half sub Valeron could only flick on a Harte corner into the path of Rio Ferdinand for the £18million centre-back to head home his first goal for Leeds and his first in four years.

Ferdinand had yesterday claimed Victor's words would provide a spur and so it proved, leading to the Leeds fans chanting: "3-0 to the weakest team."

Tristan and Walter Pandiani, who both came on in the 71st minute, almost came close to scoring an away goal in injury time for Deportivo, but Leeds held on for the vital clean sheet.

However, Leeds will do well to realise the job is only half done. Deportivo have scored four goals in each of their last three home matches at the Riazor Stadium - and came back from 3-0 down to beat Paris St Germain in their penultimate game of the last group stage.

Teams:

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Harte, Ferdinand, Matteo, Bowyer, Dacourt, Batty, Kewell (Wilcox 84), Smith, Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Kelly, Bakke, Burns, Maybury.

Booked: Matteo, Batty, Dacourt.

Goals: Harte 27, Smith 51, Ferdinand 66.

D Coruna: Molina, Manuel Pablo, Romero, Noureddine Naybet, Cesar, Scaloni (Tristan 72), Emerson, Duscher (Valeron 55), Fran (Pandiani 71), Djalminha, Makaay.

Subs Not Used: Songo'o, Devila, Victor, Fernando.

Booked: Emerson.

Att: 35,508

Ref: Gilles Veissirtr (France).