Football: Radebe is hoping to cash in on new thirst for goals

Ian Parkes
Friday 10 December 1999 20:02 EST
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LUCAS RADEBE, the Leeds United captain, has high hopes of a double bonus in this season's Uefa Cup final - by lifting the trophy and winning a pounds 30 wager.

Radebe was Leeds' match-winner in Thursday's storming third-round second leg against Spartak Moscow at Elland Road, scoring a priceless goal six minutes from time to send United into the hat for Wednesday's draw for the last 16 on the away goals' rule.

It was only the South African international's third goal for Leeds but his second this season, both coming in the Uefa Cup. Radebe finally broke his Leeds duck in an FA Cup tie in January 1998 and then had to wait until September this year to score his second, albeit while sitting on his backside in a first-round tie against Partizan Belgrade.

But his feat from inside six yards on Thursday has given Radebe the chance to win a wager with physio Dave Swift - for the last few seasons he has bet Swift that he would score three goals in a campaign.

Now Radebe has five months to find that third elusive goal and finally take the money off Swift - and what price the "hat-trick" in the Uefa Cup final? The imposing centre-back, who was again a tower of strength for Leeds against the Russian champions, sees no reason why his side cannot reach such an occasion. "We're now in the last 16 and we're thinking we can go all the way. You have to be positive once you reach this stage," he said. "We know it's going to be hard and we're going to have to graft and dig deep for the result because there are no easy teams coming up.

"But it doesn't really matter who we face because we will take on whoever, and with the spirit and determination in this side we have every opportunity. As for myself, I'm always going to fancy my chances now I've started to go up for corners, even though my first priority is to defend. But it was such an important goal, and at the right time, and I'm sure it will be a goal people will remember for a long time. I wouldn't mind repeating it again in the final."

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