Bowyer strike stuns Anderlecht

Lee Bowyer: Late strike won the game for Leeds United

Leeds 2-1 Anderlecht

Leeds United survived a rigorous examination by Anderlecht to record a sensational victory in the Uefa Champions League Group D.

After an uneventful first half, David O'Leary's side fell behind to a well worked goal from Alin Stoica.

However, Elland Road breathed a huge sigh of relief as Ian Harte rifled home a spectacular 30-yard free-kick before Lee Bowyer set the stadium alight with a stunning goal four minutes from time.

The visitors arrived boasting a wonderful domestic record but left with their tail between legs in a game which was starved of quality and dogged by mediocrity until Bowyer's stunning finale.

  Key moments

8 mins: Koller misses open goal

21 mins: Ian Harte thunders a shot wide

23 mins: Viduka shot is saved by Milojevic

31 mins: Dacourt free-kick sails over bar

46 mins: Dacourt shot saved

53 mins: Kewell joins the action

64 mins: Stoica slots home

72 mins: Bakke on for Dacourt

74 mins: Harte hammers home

82 mins: Koller blazes over

86 mins: Bowyer puts Leeds 2-1 up

For Leeds, it was a far cry from their exploits in Milan and Barcelona but the three points could prove just as decisive.

Even the crowd appeared subdued as their team, usually so explosive in Europe, were cancelled out by a stifling Belgian resistance in a poor first half.

The visitors should have been in front after just eight minutes, but Czech striker Koller failed to get on the end of Bertrand Crasson's cross.

Leeds returned fire when Dacourt whipped a free-kick into the visitor's area. However, Alan Smith struggled get any power on the cross, steering a tame header straight at Milojevic.

The hosts began to stamp their class on the game midway through the first half. Batty and Smith exchanged passes down the right before Smith found Harte on the edge of the area.

The Irish international drilled a left footed drive inches wide of the upright.

Bowyer: Late strike

The Belgians then capped off a lovely flowing move with a stinging drive from Yves Vanderhaeghe which Martin needed two attempts to save.

Leeds began the second half looking more purposeful. Dacourt, relishing a more attacking role, looked more incisive and his 46th minute piledriver was well dealt with by the Yugoslav keeper.

Perhaps the biggest cheer came when Harry Kewell was brought on for Dominic Matteo.

The Australian nearly had an instant impact on the game when his snap shot was pushed wide of the Anderlecht goal.

Disaster struck for Leeds minutes later as Anderlecht took a shock lead thanks to a fine strike from Stoica after a delightful one-two with Bart Goor.

But as the game exploded into life, Leeds got back on level terms thanks to a stunning 30-yarder from Harte which beat keeper Zvonko Milojevic low to his left.

Leeds clinched victory when Bowyer latched on to a fine reverse pass from Bakke and struck from the right side of the penalty box.

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Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Harte, Radebe, Ferdinand, Bowyer, Dacourt, Batty, Matteo, Smith, Viduka. Subs: Robinson, Woodgate, Kewell, Wilcox, Bakke, Burns.

Anderlecht: Milojevic, Crasson, Dheedene, Ilic, De Boeck, Vanderhaeghe, Stoica, Baseggio, Goor, Koller, Radzinski. Subs: Carlier, Van Diemen, Hasi, Pirard, Dindane, Youla, Traore.

Referee: Karl-Erik Nilsson (Sweden).