He admitted: ?That third goal was the important one, the one that gave us breathing space. It was vital we got that and I?d told them at half-time we needed it. You don?t want Maritimo getting an away goal near the end or you?re history, and they did threaten us at set plays.
?It was a very good performance, but the big difference from last week was that we had people back in certain positions, like Olly Dacourt and Eirik Bakke.
?We had vital players back to balance up the side. We let ourselves down in the first game, but we rectified that. All the goals were good goals and we could have scored more.?
O?Leary might have appreciated the third goal most, but it was the first that thrilled Elland Road and reassured them that an early exit so soon after the exhilaration of last season?s Champions League adventure was a fear they could safely shelve.
David Batty?s long ball from inside his own half was still a difficult prospect for Keane, who was surrounded by three defenders and has not been in the best of form. But his confident right-foot drive sent the ball fizzing past Nelson and the Irishman?s exuberant somersault confirmed his delight at a second goal of the season.
Leeds needed a second before half-time, and with their nerves settled ? and Dacourt stamping his authority on the midfield ? it arrived in the 37th minute when Rio Ferdinand launched another long ball for Mark Viduka to race on to and deliver a marvellous cross to the far post for Kewell to rise unmarked and head home for goal No.2.
Maritimo, who had already lost their Brazilian midfield inspiration Dinda when he fell awkwardly after an innocuous aerial challenge with Batty, knew their time was running out, but though they tried to counter-attack when possible-Dacourt and Batty had a stranglehold on the game by now.
It fell to Bakke, whose presence had also been missed in Madeira, to add the finishing touch in the 62nd minute and leave O?Leary to contemplate a time when he can freshen up his side from a bench that could contain a Keane or an Alan Smith.
As for winning the UEFA Cup, in a season he has deemed it crucial to break Leeds? trophy duck, O?Leary said: ?Let?s take it one step at a time. There are some great teams in the competition, including the likes of Inter Milan. But if we can put out our first XI then we?ll be there or thereabouts.?
