Anderlecht v Leeds

By Pat
April 18 2005

European Tardis Report. Anderlecht vs. Leeds United February 21st 2001. At the Stade Constant Vanden Stock.

It was a chilly night as I stepped out of the Tardis, trying to Orientate myself was going to be difficult as no one seemed to speak much English, and the Road signs were all funny. Still the sight of a Café Bar with a large Stella Artois sign, and a Menu board cheered me.

I hurried across the road, which was a near fatal experience, as I was looking the wrong way for traffic! Where the Hell was I? I did not have too long to wait.

As I walked into the bar, I took a mental note to remind me to fix the Tardis directional finder, as this certainly was not Elland Road in November 2004, and QPR fans were nowhere to be seen.

As I opened the door to the Café I realised instantly what was happening. At least 50 Leeds fans all milling around inside chanting “Champions of Europe “and” Marching on together” greeted me. I ordered 2 large filled French toasts, 2 grand Stella’s and started talking to some of the Fans.

This was to be a night to remember, I could feel it in my bones, which were a bit chilled from the cool night air, but the French Toasts were going down a treat. Anderlecht, almost unbeatable at home, were the Hosts. The prize for us would be the Last 8 of the Champions League, providing that other results in the group went our way. After ordering another French toast as a takeout, I decided it was time to make a move.

As I left the café, I could hear a voice behind me. “2 francs for a pint a beer! 75 pee, that’s grand that “!!


As I arrived at this neat little stadium, the floodlights beat down on the ground and the streets nearby. Occasionally I could see smoke rising up from the cauldron inside in large blankets. I stopped at the “Pete’s Perfect Pizza” stand just outside, and made my way into the ground.

The atmosphere was electrifying, with both sets of Supporters needing to lift their teams. Leeds fans still annoyed about the Anderlecht coach branding the Team as ordinary.

Then the teams were out on the Pitch, to a tumultuous reception, and so many flares from the Belgian fans, that it took several minutes to refocus and actually see the players. Nigel waved and applauded us, as did Danny Mills and Mark Viduka as we cranked up the Volume to another level.
The first few minutes were frantic, but Leeds were picking up pace already. Viduka muscling through the weak Anderlecht defence, and sending a shot fizzing across the box, that sadly no one could reach. Anderlecht tried to mount an attack, but their midfield floundered, and could not get the ball forward to Koller and Radzinski as David Batty and Eirik Bakke started to dominate the Midfield.

On 12 Minutes, Mark Viduka made some space for himself down the wing. His pace and energy were awesome as he managed to flick in a good cross for Smith who slotted the ball past the despairing Milojevic. 1-0 Leeds.

It was now difficult to tell who was actually in the minority in the Stadium as The Leeds Fans began to outsing their Rivals. Anderlecht came straight back out at Leeds, and a nervy quarter of an hour followed as they kept pushing up for an equaliser, but never really getting the ball through for the final touch. Ferdinand and Radebe were looking majestic in their control of the back four as they continued to frustrate the home teams attempts to break through.

On 34 Minutes, however, it all changed. Leeds tore up the field with Dacourt providing a perfect cross-field pass for Dominic Matteo. Viduka met an inch perfect cross from Matteo at the far post, and planted a looping header over the Keeper. 2-0 Leeds!


This was now all one-way traffic as from the restart. Anderlecht squandered the ball again, Viduka putting Batty in some space with a cheeky flick, and with a perfectly slotted pass, Alan Smith was through on goal. The keeper came out but could do nothing about the chip from Smith that thundered into the net, and sent the Leeds Fans absolutely wide. This was it! 38 minutes gone, and Leeds were cruising. 3-0 Leeds!

I was so excited at half time that I almost forgot to eat my sandwiches, but it was difficult not to get carried away with the excitement. The constant chants of “Champions of Europe” designed to taunt the Anderlecht coach, and “Marching on” drowning out the Anderlecht fans with one heck of a half time singsong. Shirts were being waved above heads, in spite of the cold night!!

The second half really was never to live up to the first. Leeds were not so much in control at all, and Anderlecht began to shackle the forward line a bit better. As Leeds laboured a bit, Bart Koor managed to force a superb diving save from Martyn.

In the 75th Minute, however, Anderlecht managed to get the ball home with a header from Jan Koller finally beating Martyn whose attempt to clear the cross was poor. There were muted celebrations from Anderlecht, but the team looked hungrier and started coming back at Leeds again. Koller, now very lively managed to force another excellent save from Sullivan, before Leeds finally broke the backs of the Belgians for the last time.

Mark Viduka, again muscling his way through the defence, was finally brought down by de Boeck, and Ian Harte made no mistake with the penalty on 82 minutes. 4-1 Leeds!

The final few minutes were spent with frantic attempts by the Home team to make some headway through the Leeds Midfield, but this never looked in any doubt. Kewell came on to replace Viduka for the last few minutes, the big man getting a standing ovation as he walked off.



As the final whistle went, the realisation soon followed that we were in the last 8 of the Champions League. Leaving the Stadium amidst throngs of people, I stopped off at the café again for a quick take away home. It started to drizzle outside as I shut the Tardis door, but nothing was going to dampen my spirits at all. I had just witnessed an amazing night of European football, where Leeds had literally caught fire and destroyed a Team whose home record was almost impenetrable.


Anderlecht… Milojevic Ilic, De Boeck, Crasson, Vanderhaeghe, Ghoor, Dheedene, Bassegio, Stoica, Radzinski, Koller.

Leeds… Martyn, Harte, Radebe, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Batty, Dacourt, Bakke, Smith, Viduka.

Subs Kewell, Robinson, Wilcox, Burns, Maybury