Lazio crash out of UEFA Cup pursuit
(sportinglife.com)
Updated: 2004-12-03 08:58

Lazio saw their UEFA Cup campaign brought to an end as they were held to a 2-2 draw by a stubborn Egaleo side.

Having fallen behind to Ioannis Chloros' early effort, the Italians looked to be heading for the win they needed when Roberto Muzzi's double gave them a first-half lead.

Roberto Muzzi of Lazio (L) runs to score against Egaleo's Manolis Psomas during their UEFA Cup Group E soccer match in Athens' Rizoupoli stadium December 2, 2004. [Reuters]

However, the Greek hosts came back after the interval through Anastasios Agritis to earn Egaleo their first point in Group E as Lazio saw their European hopes come crashing to the ground.

Partizan Belgrade and Villarreal booked their places in the next round with a draw proving enough for both sides.

The two teams went into the match level in Group E on four points, with Villarreal the first to strike through Santiago Cazorla.

However, Ivan Tomic secured a point for Partizan from the penalty spot and, with Lazio also held to a draw, the result was enough to earn both teams a place in the last 32 of the competition as the Italians crashed out.

Benfica sealed their place in the last 32 and sent Beveren crashing out of the competition with a routine 3-0 away victory in Belgium.

The Portuguese giants always had too much for their opponents, who were reduced to 10 men after just three minutes when goalkeeper Barry Copa Boucabar was sent off.

Slovenian hitman Zlatko Zahovic struck either side of half-time to secure the points after Sabrosa Simao's fifth-minute penalty had set them on their way.

Heerenveen came roaring back from two goals down to claim a point for the second time in the space of five days to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the competition's knockout stages.

Danijel Pranjic, on his 23rd birthday, looked like he had secured the win for Dinamo Zagreb when he hit their second goal of the night just after half-time after Ivan Bosnjak had put the hosts in front early on at the Maksimir stadium.

However Heerenveen came back from two down to snatch a point at home to Feyenoord on Sunday, and this time out after Ugur Yildirim pulled a goal back, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar slotted home from the penalty spot in the 89th minute to make in 2-2.

Both teams now need good results in their final group match to cement their places in the final 32 of the competition.

In Group H, Stefan Blank struck a last gasp penalty as Aachen salvaged a point in a 2-2 draw at home to Zenit St Petersburg to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup.

The German second division side now must beat AEK Athens in Greece on 15 December to book their place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup after the thrilling draw in their adopted European home of Cologne's RheinEnergie Stadium.

Eric Meijer put Aachen ahead after 25 minutes but the guests hit back with a penalty from Vladimir Radimov (38) and an Olexander Gorschkov header (76).

But there was drama late on as Blank equalised from the spot in the 89th minute before the hosts' Sergio Pinto was sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time.

In the other game in Group H, a last-minute penalty from Cesar Julio Baptista earned Sevilla an unlikely 3-2 victory against AEK Athens in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium.

Nikos Liberopoulos put the visitors ahead with a well-taken effort before Julio Baptista hit back for Sevilla with a firm header.

Ramiro Antonito then put the home side ahead on the half-hour mark as the Spanish side looked to take control of the tie, but they were stunned by their Greek guests one minute after the interval when Stavros Tziortziopoulos equalised.

A draw then looked to be on the cards before Baptista converted from the spot to put Sevilla, top of the group on seven points, within touching distance of the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, performance of the night was arguably from Auxerre, who crushed sorry Amica 5-1 to give themselves a fighting chance of qualifying for the last 32.

Luigi Pieroni hit a first half hat-trick to send the Ligue 1 side up to third in Group F, level on four points with Graz AK with one game to play at Rangers.

Jean-Pascal Mignot opened the scoring with only 45 seconds on the clock and Pieroni then added the second after five minutes.

Although Pawel Kryszalowicz pulled a goal back after 17 minutes further strikes from Pieroni after 23 and 26 minutes put the hosts firmly in control.

Amica were not helped by the sending off of substitute goalkeeper Radoslaw Cierzniak, himself a 37th minute replacement for the injured Arkadiusz Malarz, just two minutes into the second half.

However, the home side could only add one more goal, when Bonaventure Kalou made it 5-1, 11 minutes into the second half.

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