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Villa progress in Uefa Cup despite home loss

04/12/2008

Aston Villa have reached the last 32 of the Uefa Cup despite going down to an embarrassing defeat to MSK Zilina.

An under-strength Villa side were 2-0 down inside the first half-an-hour as Vladimir Leitner and Peter Styvar scored for Zilina. Youngster Nathan Delfouneso did get one back for Villa, but they were unable to find an equaliser despite late pressure.

Defender Zat Knight had the first real effort on goal when he headed an Ashley Young corner towards goal, but the goal-bound effort was superbly tipped over by the goalkeeper.

But the visitors were gifted a goal by a mistake from Knight. The tallest man on the field had an easy header to clear the ball away from his penalty area, but for some reason he decided to duck and the harmless cross into the box from Leitner somehow floated into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.

Three minutes later Zilina were in dreamland as they doubled their lead and this time there was no luck involved. The Slovakian minnows scored a brilliant team goal as they broke from the halfway line and Adauto played a ball behind the Villa defence which Peter Pekarik latched on to and crossed in for Styvar to tap in.

Villa were back in the game after 27 minutes through Delfouneso. The 17-year-old debutant superbly volleyed home from the edge of the box after Marlon Harewood did well to chest the ball into his path.

The home side went all out for the equaliser and their task was made a little easier when Leitner was sent-off for a second bookable offence.

But despite continued late pressure which saw Craig Gardner hit the post with a header, Villa were unable to find an equaliser, but still qualified thanks to Hamburg beating Slavia Prague.