Injury time equaliser denies Villa

Lille 1-1 Villa

An injury-time equaliser denied Villa a win in Lille tonight. But the away goal means Graham Taylor’s men will start the return-leg as favourites.

D’Amico scrambled the ball past debutant Postma deep into stoppage-time, just as Ian Taylor’s second-half strike looked to have secured a victory.

Crouch found the net on four, only to see his effort disallowed, because the ball had crossed the line just as he crossed from the left. Otherwise, despite a frantic pace, there was little goalmouth action in the early stages.

Samuel had a goal-bound header blocked by Tafforeau on 16 as he rose to meet Hitzlsperger’s right-wing corner. Moments later Delpierre denied Crouch as the Villa striker met Samuel’s cross from the left.

Mellberg did well to muscle Sterjovski off the ball on 29, before Postma was called into action for the first time as he comfortably collected Brunel’s free-kick.

Brunel lobbed the Villa keeper four minutes later,a s he met D’Amico’s through ball, but sent his effort wide of the target. Allback had the goal at his mercy on 35 as he met Crouch’s flick from a Samuel cross.

But the Swede was unable to get a shot in and the ball was cleared. At the other end Brunel fired just wide after Postma had rushed off his line to deny Sterjovski.

Allback dragged a left-foot shot just wide of the target three minutes after the interval, after linking-up well with Crouch. Sterjovski raced onto a through ball from D’Amico on 51, but saw his low shot hit the side netting.

Hitzleprger did test Wimbee in the Lille goal on 68, but the keeper comfortably collected the German Under-21 international’s free-kick.

Villa grabbed the lead on 76 as Mellberg saw his header from a Hitzlsperger corner parried and Taylor scrambled home the rebound.

Postma easily gathered Tapia’s header on 79 and the Villa keeper denied the Chilean with a double save three minutes later.

D’Amico levelled matters in stoppage time, meeting Tapia’s flick and scrambling the ball past Postma.