RIVALDO SPOILS LEEDS PARTY

BARCELONA superstar Rivaldo scored a goal four minutes into injury time to grab an equaliser and deprive Leeds of a place in the second phase of the competition after Lee Bowyer's early strike had looked like exacting sweet revenge for their opening Champions League defeat at Camp Nou.

With just seconds of the match remaining, the home side looked as they were going to hold on for a memorable win after a brilliant rearguard performance by reserve goalkeeper Paul Robinson before Rivaldo pounced to stun the Leeds faithful.

The current World Player of theYear latched onto a rebound to preserve the Catalan team's presence in this season's competition and deny David O'Leary's side a famous victory

The result means that Leeds have to go AC Milan next month and get at least a point to make sure of their progression into the next stage of the tournament and hope that Barcelona fail to win against Besiktas.

Leeds started the match at a white-hot Elland Road knowing a win would send them through and Group H favourites Barcelona crashing out.

Bowyer, who scored the winner against AC Milan last month, shocked the Spaniards after just five minutes when his free kick looped over Richard Dutruel in the Barcelona net to give David O`Leary's side a dream start.

The French goalkeeper who was at fault for the opening goal made amends with a save which prevented his side from going 2-0 down just six minutes later.

A flowing move ended with Bowyer pulling the ball back for the awaiting Alan Smith, whose first-time right-foot shot from 12 yards forced Dutruel into a fingertip save.

Rivaldo created his first bit of magic midway through the first half but Robinson proved equal to the Brazilian's effort.

Xavi curled in a 23rd-minute free-kick to the near post which was met by a thunderous header from Brazilian superstar Rivaldo which Robinson somehow managed to save down to his left.

The move sparked Barcelona into action and they started to control the game forcing Leeds onto the backfoot.

Gary Kelly brought down Alfonso on the right-hand edge of the penalty area, leading to Luis Enrique pulling the ball back for a wide-open Sergi and a shot drilled in with venom, but there was Bowyer flinging himself full length to block after 34 minutes.

Mark Viduka almost doubled the lead for the home side from Gary Kelly's inswinging corner, but he flashed his header just over the crossbar after outjumping the Barcelona defence.

Another corner followed four minutes later, this time to the far post where Viduka again arrived to meet the delivery, only to send the ball back across the face of Dutruel's goal.

The visitors almost got the equaliser in first-half injury-time through a blistering free kick from Rivaldo but Robinson produced another great save to give Leeds a half time lead.

Robinson was then repelling everyting that Barcelona could throw at him with a superb point blank from Spanish international striker Alfonso. Robinson was producing a one-man masterclass as two further saves followed, both from Rivaldo free-kicks, with the first pushed onto the base of the post from 25 yards.

Robinson was finally beaten by Rivaldo in the 76th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside much to the delight of the majority of fans inside rain soaked Elland Road.

Barcelona then threw everything into attack in the final 15 minutes with Leeds defending valiantly until Rivaldo broke their hearts with the equaliser with the last kick of the game.

Phillip Cocu's cross from the left was met by substitute Gerard whose downward header smacked against the post, with the rebound falling directly into the path of Rivaldo who drilled the ball home from 10 yards.

AC Milan made sure of progression into the next stage of the tournament with a comfortable 2-0 away win over Besiktas in their Champions League group H match on Tuesday.

Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko tormented the home side s defence throughout and was rewarded with a 39th minute headed goal from a free kick that silenced the volatile Istanbul crowd.

Two minutes before the break Spanish international Jose Mari doubled the Italians lead, heading home unmarked from a corner.

The Turks rarely troubled the Milan defence and despite a few scares in the second half the Rossonerri ran out easy winners just as they had in the first encounter between the sides in the opening game of the Champions League

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