Harry Kewell led Leeds closer towards a season in the Champions League sun at
Hillsborough this afternoon and virtually sealed the relegation fate of derby
rivals Sheffield Wednesday.
Kewell's 68th-minute wonder goal, when he audaciously chipped a helpless Kevin
Pressman with the outside of his left boot, capped a cruise for David O'Leary's
young hopefuls as they cantered back to within two points of the top three.
But while Leeds lick their lips at the possibility of Real Madrid or Barcelona
next season, the Owls' probable itinerary looks far more bleak.
Their 22nd Premiership defeat of the season, set in motion by David Hopkin's
strike after just 40 seconds of the match, leaves them facing a harsh reality.
Anything less than two wins from their last three games - including a trip to
Highbury - will leave them playing Nationwide League football next season.
Hopkin's goal was, on such an important afternoon, cataclysmic for Wednesday.
Michael Bridges bustled into the box and, even after falling over, was allowed
to play the ball out right to the unmarked Scot.
Hopkin hammered home low under Kevin Pressman and Kewell almost added a second
with a header two minutes later.
Wednesday did rally and enjoyed the lion's share of the first half possession,
but their lack of a killer touch was glaring.
While Leeds coasted secure in the knowledge that any one of a number of their
young stars had his goalscoring boots on, Wednesday relied on Wim Jonk's
free-kicks and two half-chances for Alan Quinn.
Quinn's half chance brought an athletic save from Martyn after seven minutes
and the same player flashed a shot just wide 10 minutes later.
Leeds were in cruise control even before the half-time whistle, with Kewell
serving notice of his intentions by flashing a shot across the face of goal on
the half hour, and young Matthew Jones the driving force in midfield.
At the back, centre-backs Lucas Radebe and Michael Duberry were doing a fine
job of mopping up, superbly combining to foil the on-rushing Gilles De Bilde on
the quarter hour.
News of Bradford's win over Wimbledon at half-time had, perhaps, invigorated
Wednesday who began the second period with an Andy Booth header forcing a save
from Martyn.
But five minutes later Jones dispossessed the shaky Wednesday defence and when
the ball fell to Michael Bridges the former Sunderland man hammered a right-foot
shot across Pressman and into the corner of the net.
Kewell hit the side-netting and Jones saw his overhead kick sail inches over
the bar as Leeds revelled in Wednesday's dramatic capitulation.
After Kewell's wonder strike O'Leary's hungry side showed no signs of easing
off the pedal with Jason Wilcox hitting the side-netting and even full-back
Danny Mills having Pressman at full stretch.
All of which was bad news for Wednesday, whose goal difference could, just
maybe, still prove vital. They started the day one better off in that department
than Bradford, but now face a deficit of five.
This was only Leeds' second Premiership win in seven since their Turkish
trauma and they can only aim to finish their often exhilarating season as they
started it and hope for the best.
Wednesday are long past that. Today's events both at Hillsborough and Valley
Parade have left them with a task that is simply titanic.
And even their famous supporters' band has stopped playing.
Teams
Sheff Wed: Pressman, Nolan, Atherton, Walker, Hinchcliffe,
Alexandersson (Sonner 75), Jonk, Horne (Sibon 64), Quinn,
Booth, De Bilde (Briscoe 75).
Subs Not Used: Haslam, Srnicek.
Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Radebe, Duberry, Mills,
Bakke (Haaland 69), Hopkin, Jones, Wilcox,Bridges (Huckerby 84), Kewell.
Subs Not Used: Woodgate, Robinson, Smith.
Booked: Bakke.
Goals: Hopkin 1, Bridges 53, Kewell 68.
Att: 23,416.
Ref: R Harris (Oxford).
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