Villa eye Europe after win over 'Boro

Middlesbrough 1 Aston Villa 2

Peter Crouch snatched victory at the death for 10-man Aston Villa as David O’Leary’s side reinforced their claim for European football next season.

With Villa pinned on the ropes by Middlesbrough, Crouch came off the bench to score with two minutes left and put his side fifth in the Premiership.

Villa will claim justice was done after Boro’s George Boateng had stoked more controversy about players over-reacting by getting Nolberto Solano sent off for flicking out at the Dutch midfielder.

The Peruvian did raise a hand but Boateng’s reaction – collapsing in supposed agony clutching his face – at what was a mere tap was unpleasant to witness.

That incident detracted from an excellent match where Joseph-Desire Job’s sensational strike had given Middlesbrough the lead only for Gareth Barry’s header to make it 1-1 at half-time.

With Gaizka Mendieta displaying the skill and vision that at one time made him one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe, the home side played some scintillating football.

What with that, the warm sunshine, a steel band playing outside and four South Americans on the pitch one could be forgiven for thinking this was the Maracana rather than the usually nippy Riverside.

The decisive moment could have been Solano’s dismissal – it changed the game in Boro’s favour but a fantastic rearguard action led by Olof Mellberg and Thomas Sorensen set up a superb finish.

Middlesbrough had enjoyed one victory over Villa this week – they beat the same opponents to win the FA Youth Cup final – and the home side were given an early chance when Franck Queudrue was fouled on the edge of the penalty area.

Mendieta’s direct free-kick was struck well but did not dip sufficiently to trouble Sorensen in the Villa goal.

Darius Vassell showed his phenomenal pace when Barry aimed a long ball up the left flank. The England striker gave Ugo Ehiogu a head start but still won the race comfortably but when he tried to fire under Mark Schwarzer the Boro keeper saved with his legs.

Barry’s next act was to be booked for a challenge on Juninho that was so late it was in a different time zone and he was booed by the home fans for the rest of the match.

Vassell put a low left-foot shot a yard wide from 20 yards then Thomas Hitzlsperger volleyed into the side-netting.

Villa forced a series of corners – seven in the first half-hour – but Middlesbrough defended stoutly. It was from one of these that Boro broke quickly, Mendieta playing Massimo Maccarone in on goal but Sorensen, sliding out, did wonderfully well to get an arm to his goal-bound flick.

There were more heroics from Sorensen soon afterwards. Bolo Zenden had had his drive blocked by Ronny Johnsen when Boateng picked up the rebound and struck a thunderous shot from 25 yards only to see Villa’s Danish keeper tip over.

Sorensen could do nothing, however, to prevent Middlesbrough taking the lead. Villa’s defence were outnumbered as Mendieta advanced and with several options to choose from he picked out Job unmarked on the edge of the penalty area.

The Cameroon striker swivelled and crashed an unstoppable left-footed shot high into the top corner.

All that good work was undone though when Villa equalised on the stroke of half-time. Hitzlsperger’s long free-kick did not look too threatening but Chris Riggott failed to track Barry and his header bounced low into the net.

The match continued to ebb and flow evenly until Villa’s task was made onerous in the 57th minute by Solano’s dismissal.

Almost immediately, the home side nearly took the lead again. Maccarone raced onto Mendieta’s pass only to see Sorensen keep out his attempted lob with Job pulling the loose ball wide of the post from 18 yards.

After that it was a case of manning the barricades for Villa.

Ehiogu met Mendieta’s header three yards out and Sorensen palmed the ball clear just as Maccarone was about to pounce.

Job then seemed destined to score when the ball dropped at his feet seven yards out but Mellberg, leading the rearguard action, dived in to rescue Villa before Zenden failed to beat Sorensen from 10 yards and Mendieta had another drive blocked.

The dam wall seemed certain to break but Sorensen pulled off another fantastic diving save to keep out Zenden, then Juninho twice went close.

After all that pressure it must have been agonising for Middlesbrough when with two minutes remaining Villa stole victory.

Ulises de la Cruz dodged past two challenges and forced Schwarzer to push out his strike and the ball fell perfectly for Crouch to ram home.