Leeds 1 Man United 0
Rio Ferdinand's hotly-anticipated return to Elland Road ended with the bitter taste of defeat as Harry Kewell temporarily sent Leeds back to the top of the Premiership today.
Leeds fans will dine out on this victory for many a day as they not only beat their fiercest rivals for the first time in five years, but they had the last laugh on a player they regarded as a hero up until his £30million move across the Pennines two months ago.
Kewell capped a superb 66th-minute move, nipping in between Ferdinand and centre-back partner Laurent Blanc before nodding a downward header past Fabien Barthez from six yards for his second goal of the season.
Leeds manager Terry Venables brought on Stephen McPhail for Mark Viduka, the Irish midfielder making his first Leeds appearance since November last year when he played in the Worthington Cup fourth-round against Chelsea.
Kewell could have finished it seven minutes from time, capitalising on another Ferdinand error and taking on United's defence, only to drag an angled 15-yard shot wide.
A Solskjaer challenge on Kewell as Leeds defended desperately prompted a shoving match between a number of players, with Harte then racing in to shove the Norwegian, resulting in bookings for the two main protagonists.
PA