Viduka strike keeps Leeds's European hopes alive
Elfed Jones
Leeds United collected their fifth win in seven matches as a first-half strike by Australian forward Mark Viduka gave them a 1-0 victory at Aston Villa in the premier league on Saturday.
The win puts Leeds within a point of Chelsea as they chase the fifth place currently occupied by the west London club and which offers a UEFA Cup spot for next season. Villa, who have now won only once in 10 games, remain 10th.
Viduka put Leeds in front on 29 minutes and while Villa hit back after the break and dominated the second half, they did not have the cutting edge up front to find an equaliser.
Leeds started strongly and found the net after just six minutes but the effort was disallowed for offside. Villa then took over and put the Leeds goal under pressure with their Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel going close.
Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckleman, taking over from Peter Schmeichel who is poised to sign for first division champions Manchester City, proved his worth with some timely interceptions and saved smartly from Robbie Keane in the opening 15 minutes.
But it was Angel with a powerful 25-metre shot who went closest, forcing Nigel Martyn to save at the foot of his post.
Further efforts from Angel and midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger threatened the Leeds goal but it was the visitors who scored the crucial goal just before the half-hour mark.
Midfielder David Batty fed Robbie Keane from the right and he crossed for Viduka to net his 16th goal of the season.
Villa seemed to be a revitalised when Jlloyd Samuel replaced the ineffective Hassan Kachloul after the interval.
Hitzlsperger forced Martyn into another good save and recent signing Peter Crouch struck a left-foot shot just over the bar.
At the other end it was Enckleman who performed heroics when he dispossessed Batty from two metres out.
Then Viduka found Keane on the left but the Ireland striker's shot went wide.
Villa almost equalised 10 minutes from time when Gareth Barry's header found Samuel on the left edge of the box but Martyn saved his fierce drive.
Ian Taylor then missed the post by inches and Hitzlsperger almost secured a deserved draw for Villa in the closing stages.
His shot from the left put Martyn in all sorts of trouble but the England goalkeeper recovered to palm the ball away as Leeds kept alive their hopes of a European place next season.
