Harry Kewell's dynamic late goal gave Leeds United a three-goal cushion to take to Russia in their bid to make it through to the third round of the UEFA Cup.

And David O'Leary reckons his young side side will need such a margin against attack-minded Lokomotiv Moscow.

"The job is not done. You might expect me to say that but they have got talented people. They have got a lot of dangerous players. They are a physical side and a good footballing side," said the Leeds boss, whose precocious side extended their winning run to a club record 10 matches.

"I just hope we can get through this and get a small run in the competition as a reward for overcoming this one. But it will be cold and hard over in Moscow. So I am delighted to be going there with this lead."

He feared the worst when Lucas Radebe was harshly pulled up for a foul on the edge of the box nine minutes from the end and free-kick specialist Dmitri Loskov curled the ball past Nigel Martyn.

That made it 3-1 with nine minutes remaining and the complexion of the tie had changed dramatically, but for all their skilful attacking Lokomotiv looked suspect in defence.

Within two minutes of Loskov's goal, Kewell took the ball on his chest and smacked a low angled drive from the left into the bottom corner of goalkeeper Ruslan Nigmatoullin's net.

It was a classy goal which summed up United's exuberant display against a quality side.

But Lokomotiv coach Yuri Syomin insists that his team will not be surrendering and the best is yet to come.

"We will do what we can in Moscow and we will learn from our mistakes. Football is, after all, the game which can come up with surprises."

But his side will need to tighten up in defence against a Leeds side who will be confident their counter-attacking style will get them a goal in Moscow.

Last night's game must rank as one of the most entertainingt European games seen at Elland Road.

Leeds produced their best home 90 minutes of the season and needed to against a side which oozed skill and class in midfield in attack.

But any ball angled into the Lokomotiv box created havoc and the Russian back-line was punctured after 27 minutes.

Stephen McPhail's free-kick to the far post was headed across the box by Michael Bridges for Jonathon Woodgate to lay the ball back for Lee Bowyer to lash home.

Just before the interval Bowyer, pushing harder than ever for a full England recognition, headed in his seventh Leeds goal this season from Bridges' teasing cross from the left.

Lokomotiv had shown plenty of enterprise themselves and Alexei Arifoullin hit the bar with a 35-yard dipping shot which fooled Martyn.

But the big goalkeeper was certainly awake immediately after half-time - twice saving brilliantly to keep out power-packed shots from Loskov.

But Lokomotive's vunerability at the back was exposed again on 56 minutes when they failed to deal with a Kewell cross from the right and when Gary Kelly was able to return it from the opposite flank, Alan Smith's overhead kick put United 3-0 up.

With David Batty, here, there and everywhere, Leeds looked in complete command until the excellent Loskov finally got his reward. But Kewell's jewel should ensure Leeds continue their European adventure.

One player unlikely to feature in that adventure is midfielder Bruno Ribeiro.

The Portuguese Under-21 player was having talks with Sheffield United today about a move to Bramall Lane.

Goals by Silvio Maric and Alan Shearer gave Newcastle United a 2-1 win at FC Zurich, but West Ham face a stiff task at Upton Park in a fortnight's time after losing 2-0 in Romania to Steaua Bucharest.

Celtic's Swedish star Henrik Larsen broke his leg in the Glasgow side's 1-0 defeat in Lyon.

Leeds United 4, Lokomotiv Moscow 1Leeds United: Martyn, Kelly, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Bowyer, Batty, McPhail, Kewell, Bridges (Huckerby 61), Smith. Subs (not used): Haaland, Hopkin, Robinson, Mills, Bakke, Jones. Caution: Radebe. Goals: Bowyer 27, 45, Smith 56, Kewell 83Lokomotiv

Moscow: Nigmatoullin, Arifoullin, Drozdov, Kharlatchev, Lavrik, Chugainov, Smertin, Pashinin (Hovhannisyan 60), Tanashia (Boulykin 39), Sarisian (Maminov 75).

Subs (not used): Poliakov, Solomatin, Semenenko, Loskov, Neretin.

Caution: Drozdov.

Goal: Loskov 81Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)Attendance: 37,814

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