The midfielder said: 'You never expect a top-class goalie to drop a shot like that but the conditions were horrific and the goal took advantage of them.' Not so much beaten as publicly flogged in the Camp Nou last week, Leeds had feared another pasting in front on their home supporters.

But despite the absence of seven key personnel, a delighted O'Leary watched his side dredge deep into their reserves of self-belief to punish Milan for their lackadaisical attitude. It may not have been the greatest night in Leeds' European history but the monsoon conditions worked to their advantage against a Milan side which was a pale imitation of the dominant side of the Nineties.

Yet nothing could detract from the effort and commitment of O'Leary's side, as they strained every sinew to rebuild their European season which will mean so much to the dressing room. O'Leary's desperation to arrest his side's slump had been evidence with a debut for Dominic Matteo, out since his £4.75million arrival from Liverpool with a knee injury, and the return, ahead of schedule, of Eirik Bakke.

Both were drafted into the Leeds midfield on a foul night, with Matteo filling the role that would have been taken by either Harry Kewell or Jason Wilcox on the left. Initial nervousness and anxiety in the home ranks was evident.

Skipper Gary Kelly even forgot he was supposed to exchange pennants with Paolo Maldini, and when the game began O'Leary's side were sluggish and hesitant. It could have proved fatal inside three minutes, when Ian Harte was robbed by Thomas Helveg 35 yards out.

The Dane advanced purposefully towards the exposed Nigel Martyn as Danny Mills attempted in vain to cover across, but his shot from the edge of the box flew into the side netting. Despite their illustrious history, Milan had not achieved a victory in nine previous visits to England.

And it soon dawned on the home side that Milan were no Barcelona for all the reputation of Oliver Bierhoff and Andriy Shevchenko up front, and the experience of Maldini and Co at the back. Indeed, when Leeds did get the ball down on the sodden surface, backing up a determinedly physical approach emphasised when Michael Duberry went through Shevchenko from behind, they were able to pose threats.

Milan keeper Dida, under pressure from feisty Alan Smith, punched weakly, but the off-balance Bakke could only stab the ball towards goal. Suddenly Leeds demonstrated the 'courage' O'Leary had called for, and with Milan taking it too easily the mood was altering. Bakke's aerial power gave Leeds something they have been missing, and the Norwegian knew he should have scored a minute later.

Dacourt's short free-kick found Lee Bowyer in space on the right, the cross was struck with menace, and Bakke, steaming in, thundered his header over the bar. Albertini did bring a save out of Martyn but the England keeper was more concerned when he miskicked from Duberry's back pass and then punched off Guly's head.

It should have been a free-kick but Leeds escaped and while Bakke was booked for catching Albertini, O'Leary's team were hunting the ball down, bridging the gap that the manager had conceded existed. And the boos of Saturday were replaced by a standing ovation at half-time.

The rain that had fallen torrentially from long before kick-off was finally taking its toll on the Elland Road surface, with standing water all over the pitch. But Leeds, with Duberry working so hard to marshal the back line, and Bakke and Dacourt unstinting in their efforts, were still making Milan look distinctly ordinary.

Bierhoff did meet Albertini's near-post corner for a shot that Martyn was grateful to grab, and while Leeds were not creating much, nor were they under genuine pressure. Even so, it was Leeds who came closer, Duberry and Smith battling each other to meet Bowyer's right-wing corner, with the striker unfortunately getting underneath the ball.

Shevchenko finally made and impact, forcing Martyn into two late saves but it was to be Bowyer who had the last word.

Leeds (4-4-2): Martyn; Kelly, Duberry, Mills, Harte; Bowyer, Bakke, Dacourt, Matteo; Smith, Bridges. Booked: Bakke, Mills.

AC Milan (3-4-3): Dida; Chamot, Costacurta, Maldini; Helveg, Albertini, Giunti (Sauditi, 90), Coco; Guly (De Ascentis, 59), Bierhoff, Shevchenko. Booked: Coco, Maldini.