Leeds 1-1 Barcelona

	Jonathan Woodgate challenges Luis Enrique (ShaunBotterill/Allsport)

That it was Rivaldo who finally breached the astonishingly resilient white wall Leeds had placed in front of the magnificent Paul Robinson was inevitable.

The Brazilian, the scourge of Leeds in the Camp Nou last month, had been thwarted time and again by the stand-in goalkeeper, whose display could surely not have been bettered.

But just as Leeds seemed to have done enough, Rivaldo struck in a fourth minute of injury time that only Norwegian referee Terje Hauge can explain.

Lee Bowyer, whose fifth minute free-kick had put O'Leary's babes within touching distance of the promised land of the next phase, for once was unable to complete his clearance, giving Phillip Cocu the chance to launch one last all or nothing attack.

Not even Robinson's sensational reflexes could do anything about substitute Gerard's header, which cannoned against the foot of the post. Before Elland Road could breathe a collective sigh of relief, Rivaldo leapt in with the grace of a panther to side-foot home the rebound from the penalty spot with his favoured left foot.

Barcelona - and the whole of Catalonia - celebrated as Leeds collapsed in dejection, their dreams of glory snatched away in such a brutal fashion. The pain and despair felt by every Leeds player and supporter was understandable. This had been the sort of rearguard action that only the truly brave can undertake.

Leeds still only need to draw against a Milan side already sure of their progress, and who would not be averse to seeing Barcelona exit at the first-round stage. Leeds' efforts mean they deserve that opportunity.

Bowyer's early strike, his searing delivery from the left floating over Richard Dutruel's flailing hands to finish in the back of the net, had set the scene for what was to follow.

Barcelona, inspired by the litheness of Rivaldo, the intelligence of Luis Enrique and the scintillating speed of Portuguese flyer Simao, were a relentless tide, surging forward with the intensity of a team that could not afford to fail.

But instead of folding, of giving in, Leeds - with only Nigel Martyn, Lucas Radebe and Harry Kewell missing from O'Leary's first-choice side - refused to bow to their supposed betters.

In the midfield, even when they appeared to be overrun, Olivier Dacourt - running the risk of a red card throughout, so great was his commitment - Bowyer and Eirik Bakke kept on hustling and harrying, forcing Barca to find another direction for their attacks.

When they did, Jon Woodgate and Danny Mills in particular were quite sensational. Woodgate grew with every passing minute, his calmness a reassuring presence as other heads began to wander with the anticipation of what might be.

But it was Robinson, catapulted into the spotlight when Martyn tore his groin 10 days ago, who was the hero of what was so nearly Leeds' greatest European night since reaching the Final at Barca's expense 25 years ago.

When the 21-year-old flew to his left to keep out Rivaldo's tracer bullet header from Xavi's free-kick midway through the first half, it appeared a stop to savour. By the end it was evident that it was just the beginning, as Robinson kept his side's lead intact in quite unbelievable style.

The leap down to his left to turn aside Rivaldo's stunning free-kick on the stroke of half-time was better still, while the effort to deny Alfonso's close-range header from Luis Enrique's cross on the hour was the best of the lot.

Leeds occasionally threatened to add to their advantage, with Smith and Mark Viduka feeding off the scraps that came their way. Dutruel redeemed himself with a dive to turn Smith's scudding drive wide and when Bowyer linked with Viduka - who held the ball up so well - the Dutch goal-keeper had to save with his legs.

If the midfielder had been able to play Viduka in when he appeared in space to his right 16 minutes from time it would have been all over, even though Barcelona remained dominant.

Robinson made two more fine saves from Rivaldo, both at the foot of his right-hand upright, and he deserved the bit of luck that came his way when the Brazilian diverted Alfonso's shot into the bottom corner only for the linesman rightly to raise his flag.

The boasts of the absent Marc Overmars and Manu Petit that moving to the Camp Nou would increase their chances of winning Europe's biggest prize were looking hollow and even though a sense of foreboding greeted the announcement of four minutes of added time, nobody could have anticipated such a devastating conclusion.

Fortunately, the spat between Smith and the Barcelona duo at the final whistle was swiftly defused, although UEFA may take a dim view.

Europe's governing body may be even less happy about the prospect of Barcelona being knocked out, though when Leeds have time to draw breath this morning, they will know that they are still in the Champions League box-seat. Just one point in the San Siro and they will have achieved the near-impossible.