Galatasaray exploit the gaps

Galatasaray 2-0 Leeds

Galatasaray took advantage of sloppy Leeds defending to take a measure of control after the first leg of the sides' Uefa Cup semi-final.

The tie, overshadowed by the deaths of two Leeds fans on the eve of the match, saw Hakan Sukur score a free header in the early stages.

Key moments

13 mins: Hakan Sukur unmarked to take lead

44 mins: Capone reacts to make it 2-0

58: Bridges wastes clear chances for away goal

Brazilian Carlos Capone bundled the ball home a minute before half-time, while Leeds striker Micheal Bridges wasted a superb chance for an away goal in the second half.

The match was preceded by a minute's silence but it was not officially orchestrated and confined merely to visiting players and fans.

Only the Leeds players wore black armbands, while the tiight security did not prevent the usual intimidating atmosphere at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium.

Galatasaray offer their sincere condolences for the tragic events that occurred last night and condemn all acts of violence that serve only to disgrace the name of football

Galatasaray stadium tannoy announcement

The difficult build-up cannot have helped the visitors' edgy first half performance, and although they improved after the break there was no tangible reward for their efforts.

The Leeds team coach had been given an armed escort by some of the reported 8,000 police officers on duty.

Inside the ground the home fans' banners welcoming European visitors to "hell" were removed, while three lines of police and a spiked white barrier protected visiting supporters.

For the match itself, Bridges returned from injury in place of Alan Smith while Matthew Jones replaced Alfe Inge Haaland in a five-man midfield.

Armed police surrounded the stadium

The game started with chances for both sides, with Galatasaray's Romanian veteran Georghe Hagi extremely influential.

Then came the early goal which intensified the atmosphere.

Arif Erdem found space down the Galatasaray right and swung over a cross, which Hakan Sukur headed past Martyn having lost his marker Jonathon Woodgate.

When you play at this level you can't afford to give away goals like that. It is stupid

David O'Leary

Four minutes later Arif should have added a second when he got free in the Leeds area, but he headed past the post.

Leeds were still in it and Bridges tested Taffarel from distance while Harry Kewell might have done better after a direct run down the left five minutes before half-time.

But the Premiership side were giving away too many free kicks inside their own half with bookings for Jones and Kewell before the second goal.

Hagi was behind most of the set pieces but when Ergun Penbe took one a minute before half-time Capone exploited some terrible defending.

There was no official minute's silence but Leeds had their own

The Turkish side's Brazilian star was allowed to bring the ball down and lift it over the helpless Martyn with Lucas Radebe unusually hesitant.

Early in the second half Lee Bowyer became the third player booked before Bridges enjoyed a glorious double chance to score an away goal.

The young striker was one on one with Taffarel, who stood tall to repel his first effort before Bridges shot his second attempt into the side netting.

Radebe (left) was not his normal assured self

Kewell also made a superb run across the edge of the area but the Australian's finish again failed to live up to his own approach work.

Galatasaray appeared happy with their lead and did not attack with the verve of the first half.

Meanwhile Leeds boss David O'Leary replaced Jones and Bridges with Jason Wilcox and Darren Huckerby.

The former Coventry striker's pace did help create one opportunity.

Kewell headed Eirik Bakke's cross back across the box but Stephen McPhail shot wide just 10 yards from goal.

Bowyer and Arif challenge for the ball

With six minutes remaining Ian Harte had a free kick from the edge of the area deflected a foot wide by the hosts' wall.

The Irishman also became the fourth visiting player to be booked in injury time.

But perhaps understandably there was little of the usual spark associated with O'Leary's team and they will have it all to do at Elland Road in a fortnight.

Teams:

Galatasaray: Taffarel, Bulent, Popescu, Capone, Ergun, Okan, E. Suat, Emre, Hagi, Arif, Sukur. Subs: Bolukbasi, Hasan, Fatih, Ahmet, Emrah, Hakan, Marcio Santos.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Woodgate, Radebe, Harte, Bowyer, Jones, McPhail, Bakke, Bridges, Kewell. Subs: Haaland, Huckerby, Robinson, Wilcox, Smith, Mills, Duberry.

Referee: Hellmut Kruc (Germany)