Chelsea and Rangers crashed out of the UEFA Cup tonight in dramatic fashion. The Londoners lost 5-4 on aggregate to Norwegian minnows Viking FK, while the Glasgow giants were beaten by an away goal in extra-time against Czech side Viktoria Zizkov. The rest of the British teams, apart for Livingston, advanced to the second round. Leeds, Blackburn and Ipswich all endured difficult away ties in Eastern Europe but all three clubs managed to scrape through, Leeds the luckiest of all after they produced a dreadful performance in the Ukraine. Fulham eventually overcame their Croatian opponents at Loftus Road and Celtic completed a rout over their Lithuanian opponents. However, it will the plight of the two blue-clad teams that will dominate the sports pages in the morning.
Erik Nevland, the striker rejected by Manchester United four years ago, scored the goal that dumped Chelsea out in Stavanger. It looked as if John Terry had spared Chelsea's blushes when he popped up on his first appearance of the season to score the goal which made it 4-4 on aggregate - leaving the Premiership team ahead on the away goals rule. But Nevland, struck the winner with only four minutes remaining - and Claudio Ranieri's men crashed out to lesser opposition just as they had to St Gallen two years ago and then Hapoel Tel Aviv last term. Morten Berre opened the scoring for Viking after only eight minutes and Peter Kopteff swept home a stunning second goal after 33 minutes, before Frank Lampard pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time. Nevland got his first of the night after 59 minutes but Terry struck with a far post header three minutes later. That looked to be enough for Chelsea until Nevland popped up again with a dramatic late goal that saw Chelsea lose 5-4 on aggregate.
Nick Barmby spared Leeds' blushes with a late equaliser away to Metalurg Zaporizhia. The former Liverpool man's equalising strike in the 1-1 second leg draw gave Leeds a 2-1 aggregate winning scoreline. A static Leeds defence watched Irakli Modebadze loop a header over Paul Robinson from eight yards for the opening score. Republic of Ireland defender Ian Harte then flicked on a Barmby corner for Dominic Matteo to fire in a rocket of a 10-yard half-volley which the keeper held onto. But that was as much as Leeds could muster as they toiled against their seemingly weaker opponents - until Barmby's face-saver. A low Harry Kewell cross was tipped into the path of Alan Smith for a reaction header which the 21-year-old directed goalwards for Barmby - in what appeared to be an offside position - to tap home from three yards. Leeds then eased home after the 80th minute when Uros Milosavljevic was sent off for a second bookable offence.
In Bulgaria, David Thompson steered Blackburn into the second round with a wonder goal to send Blackburn Rovers through on a 4-4 total, Graeme Souness' side advancing thanks to the away goals rule. The match ended in high drama with CSKA Sofia pegging back a 3-0 lead. Blackburn took the lead on the night and on aggregate as well with a stunning goal from Thompson after 30 minutes. Egil Ostenstad headed the ball into his path 30 yards out and he took one touch before delivering a thunderous shot that went in off the post. Ostenstad made it 2-0 following a flick on from Andy Cole after Tugay had split the defence in the 56th minute. Then Damien Duff got in on the act after a defence-splitting pass from David Dunn to put Rovers 3-0 ahead on the night and 4-1 up on aggregate. CSKA, however, pulled a goal back in the 66th minute when sub Emil Gargarov scored with a header. Then another sub, Agnaldo, ghosted in behind the defence to head home in the 69th minute for the home side`s second goal. Then the hosts levelled the scores in the 88th minute when Gargarov scored from the spot. The Bulgarians` quest for a sensational win was not helped by the 90th-minute dismissal of Dimitrov for a lunge on Thompson.
Fulham went through after drawing 2-2 with Croatia's Hadjuk Split to earn a 3-2 aggregate win. First-half goals from French duo Steve Marlet and Steed Malbranque were enough for Jean Tigana's side in their first UEFA Cup campaign. Fulham, 1-0 up after the first leg, saw the advantage of their away goal cancelled out in the sixth minute when Vlatko Dolonga's deflected free-kick levelled the tie. But in the 20th minute Marlet made it 1-1 on the night before Hrvoje Vejic's header put Split 2-1 up four minutes before half-time. However, in the 44th minute Fulham equalised again when Malbranque scored from a re-taken penalty.
Earlier, Marcus Bent converted a ninth minute penalty to ensure Ipswich Town’s passage into the second round as they beat FK Sartid 1-0 near Belgrade today, the First Division side progressing on a 2-1 aggregate scoreline. Finidi George managed to deliver a deep cross from the right flank and Spanish referee Luis Medina spotted a shove on Bent in the area. Bent stepped up to take the penalty himself and stroked it powerfully to the back of the net. Ipswich survived some pressure from the Yugoslavs and missed numerous chances themselves. But in the end their wasted chances mattered not. Town, however, may lodge an official complaint to UEFA as it was revealed that goalscorer Bent and George were both racially abused by the home fans.
Rangers were knocked out after by an away goal in extra-time as Viktoria Zizkov, who had been 3-0 down on the night, made it 3-1 and therefore 3-3 on aggregate. It was an Ibrox night of high drama with two goals from Ronald de Boer taking the tie past the 90-minute mark. Then Neil McCann gave his side the scent of victory before Marcel Licka saved the Czechs, who ended the game with 10 men, with a heartbreaking reply. Meanwhile in Lithuania, goals from David Fernandez and Alan Thompson completed Celtic's 10-1 aggregate rout against FK Suduva. Back in Scotland, Livingston beat Sturm Graz 4-3 at home, but lost 8-6 on aggregate.
Filed by James Boylan.
