Leeds' young gem Alan Smith produced a sparkling striking display and two
devastating goals to bring Rushden's glorious FA Cup heroics to an end at Elland
Road.
Multi-millionaire Dr Martens owner Max Griggs' side started out with every
intention of putting the boot into Leeds - but in the end it was an 18-year-old
who proved to be more than they could handle.
It is no wonder United boss David O'Leary has vowed to fight FA technical
director and former Elland Road manager Howard Wilkinson all the way for the
services of rising young star Smith.
The teenager is one of three Leeds players - defender Jonathon Woodgate and
goalkeeper Paul Robinson the others - Wilkinson is likely to call on for the
World Under-20 championships in Nigeria later this year.
But O'Leary, with Europe now possible on two fronts via the Premiership and
the Cup after setting up a fourth-round tie at Portsmouth, is determined
Wilkinson will not get his way.
Smith took both his goals with the assurance of a seasoned professional,
doubling his tally for the campaign after starting his Leeds career with two
goals on his first two substitute appearances.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the creator for Smith's brilliant goals, then
finished off the brave Conference high-fliers with a third in the 67th minute.
But it all looked so different early on as Diamonds made the perfect start and
one everybody connected with Rushden must have dreamed about the night before -
even if the goal that put them in front was far from a perfect strike.
With 10 minutes gone, former West Brom and Swansea striker Carl Heggs, a
£40,000 buy from Northampton earlier this month, sent the 4,000 travelling
Diamonds fans into delirium.
Miquel De Souza outpaced returning captain Lucas Radebe, with O'Leary having
taken a gamble on the South African international after five games on the
sidelines with a knee injury.
His dangerous cutback inside the area picked out Adrian Foster, whose
goalbound shot was hacked off the line.
Heggs then drilled the rebound against the post as an almighty goalmouth
scramble ensued.
Then, after a second attempt by Foster had again been denied by
David Wetherall, Heggs finally rattled home from six yards.
The vast majority of the 39,000 Elland Road crowd was stunned into silence
while Heggs, his team-mates, the Rushden bench and the fans all celebrated in
astonished bewilderment.
For 11 glorious minutes it seemed as if one of the greatest upsets in Cup
history was on the cards, one to rival Altrincham's win at Birmingham in 1986
and Sutton United's famous victory over Coventry three years later.
The frustration was clearly growing, not only among the Leeds players, but
also out on the pitch until Rushden conceded their first goal after five
successive clean sheets.
Radebe's through ball was touched on by Hasselbaink, a combination which
carved open the Diamonds defence, for Smith to capitalise.
With one neat touch and deft flick, the ball was sent spinning past Las
Vegas-born Ian Feuer, the goalkeeper with all the razzmatazz showbusiness
connections.
The 6ft 7in giant, whose father played with Elvis, whose mother was a Las
Vegas showgirl and whose sister married Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke, took
centre stage himself with a string of fine saves.
Leeds dominated possession and were rarely out of Rushden's half but they
never made such superiority count until the 51st minute when Harry Kewell and
Hasselbaink set up Smith for a pile-driving right-foot finish from 16 yards.
After that it was a shooting gallery as Feuer saved from Kewell, Hasselbaink
and Ian Harte, until he conceded a soft third midway through the second half, a
goal borne out of De Souza's miss seconds earlier.
Kewell's left-wing run allowed him to tee up Hasselbaink for a shot from 15
yards which squeezed under the body of Feuer, who must nonetheless have done
enough in the tie to earn himself a contract at a league club.
Leeds spurned further chances before Smith was given a standing ovation five
minutes from time when he was substituted by Alfie Haaland.
There was also a rousing cheer for former Leeds hero Chris Whyte, a member of
United's championship-winning side of 1992, as he was given a few minutes back
on the Elland Road turf, this time as a Rushden sub.
The applause rang out again come the final whistle as the Leeds fans paid
their tribute to the Northamptonshire side who had come so near to unparalleled
glory.
TeamsLeeds: Martyn, Radebe, Wetherall, Woodgate, Harte, Hopkin,
Bowyer, Granville, Smith (Haaland 85), Hasselbaink, Kewell.
Subs Not Used: Wijnhard, Ribeiro, Halle, Robinson.
Booked: Radebe.
Goals: Smith 22, 51, Hasselbaink 67.
Rushden & D'monds: Feuer, Wooding, Bradshaw, Rodwell, Underwood,
McElhatton, Butterworth, Hamsher (Brady 76), Heggs,
Foster (West 46), De Souza (Whyte 88).
Subs Not Used: Cooper, Corry.
Booked: McElhatton, Underwood, Rodwell.
Goals: Heggs 11.
Att: 39,159
Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).
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