Leeds, Rangers eliminated

Published March 2, 2002

PARIS, March 1: Leeds and Rangers fans hoping for a ‘Battle of Britain’ UEFA Cup quarterfinal between their two clubs ended up empty-handed Thursday as both sides crashed out of the fourth round.

Leeds, optimistic of advancing to the last eight after securing a first leg draw with PSV Eindhoven last week, were sunk by a 90th-minute header from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink at Elland Road.

Dutch opposition also accounted for Glasgow giants Rangers, who slid out 4-3 on aggregate after losing a thrilling match 3-2 against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

To rub salt into the wounds of Rangers fans, defeat came largely thanks to a superb display by a Celtic old boy, Pierre van Hooijdonk scoring two near-identical freekicks as Feyenoord advanced.

Roda JC Kerkrade came within a whisker of making it three Dutch teams into the quarterfinals when they defeated AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro.

Mark Luijpers’ 70th-minute goal saw the tie finish at 1-1 after extra-time. But the penalty shoot-out proved a bridge too far for Roda, and Milan’s nerve held as they won 3-2.

While Milan were squeezing into the next round on penalties, arch-rivals Inter Milan also advanced after a 2-2 draw against Greek side AEK Athens, enough for a 5-3 aggregate win.

In Prague, a late goal blitz from Slovan Liberec saw the home side dismiss Lyon with a 4-1 rout on the night.

UEFA Cup fourth round results

In Prague:

Slovan Liberec 4 Olympique Lyon 1

In Parma:

Parma 1 Hapoel Tel Aviv 2

In Rotterdam:

Feyenoord 3 Rangers 2

In Geneva:

Servette 2 Valencia 2

In Athens:

AEK Athens 2 Inter Milan 2

In Berlin:

Borussia Dortmund 0 Lille 0

In Leeds:

Leeds United 0 PSV Eindhoven 1

In Milan:

AC Milan 0 Roda JC Kerkrade 1

—Reuters