EUROPEAN football may still be a long shot for Middlesbrough but on this evidence the Teessiders have every chance of reaching the promised land.

And in Juninho, manager Steve McClaren has the man who could help propel Boro into sixth spot, which would ensure a coveted UEFA Cup place.

The dynamic Brazilian, who was outstanding in the 3-2 win at Leeds United on Saturday, is convinced the Riverside outfit can achieve their goal after extending their unbeaten run to five games.

Boro climbed to 11th by claiming all three points at crisis club Leeds and Juninho, who put his side 2-1 up in first half injury time with a long range strike not normally associated with the 30-year-old, said: "I think we can qualify for Europe.

"If we keep playing the way we are playing at the moment then I don't see any reason why we can't."

Juninho had a quiet start. However, as the game progressed his impact on proceedings increased with his probing runs causing the home defence all sorts of problems.

The former Atletico Madrid man was only making his second start in a Boro shirt after overcoming a serious knee injury sustained in a pre-season friendly.

But he has now scored twice since making his comeback and he admits he could not have wished for things to have gone any better.

"When I was out it was what I dreamed about," said Juninho, who also missed the majority of training last week after picking up an ankle injury. "Scoring two goals in two matches, I can't ask for anymore.

"In fact it doesn't get much better than that does it? It's easy to come back into a side when they are doing well and it helps me have no problems."

He added: "I can last the 90 minutes, I trained a lot over the six months when I was injured so I'm fit and I don't think I have any problems.

"I hope there is more to come from me. I always look to improve and I always believe that you need to have the appetite to do that."

Juninho improve on Saturday's performance? Any football fan in the right mind would like to see that; Opposition defences may have other ideas.

As on Saturday Leeds had trouble containing the South American's skills. He was a handful.

But, while Juninho enjoyed one of those days, his teammates were just as commanding - all but Mark Schwarzer.

The Australian, who has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premiership this season, was slow off his line after 24 minutes and Mark Viduka was able to get between George Boateng and Schwarzer to tap into home.

Viduka had exchanged passes with Eirik Bakke and that was to prove one of Leeds' best moves of an otherwise depressing day for the Yorkshire faithful.

It was harsh on Boro who had started the brighter. But 11 minutes later they were back on level terms.

Massimo Maccarone, who was lively in the final third throughout his time on the field, cooly slotted in his seventh goal of the season from the penalty spot.

The spot-kick was awarded, and quite rightly so, because Maccarone's first touch from Boateng's long ball got the Italian away from Lucas Radebe. The South African brought down the £8.15m signing as he was running through on goal.

Boro were on top and two minutes into first half injury time Juninho struck a right-footed 25-yard drive past Paul Robinson's outstretched right hand.

That strike stemmed from some fine work by Jonathan Greening who was one of a number of Englishmen being watched by national boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Alan Smith tried hard to create something for the home side with Schwarzer making a fine save to deny the tigerish forward, but it was Geremi who extended Boro's lead on 64 minutes.

The on-loan Cameroon man, whom McClaren is keen to sign permanently, found space 22 yards out and, after spotting Robinson off his line, he placed a delicate lob over the Leeds' keeper and into the net - pure class.

But on 76 minutes Schwarzer spilled a harmless low shot from subsitute James Milner and Viduka nipped in to embarrass the Aussie for the second time in the game.

Despite a late rally from Terry Venables' men, the visitors held on to record a rare win at Elland Road and it was the first time Boro had scored three goals at that ground since December 1962.

Result: Leeds United 2 Middlesbrough 3.

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