Middlesbrough survive Xanthi scare
Thursday, 15 September 2005
by Andrew Haslam
from Riverside stadium
Goals in each half from George Boateng and Mark Viduka proved
enough to give Middlesbrough FC a hard-earned win against Xanthi FC
in the UEFA Cup first round in a closely-fought encounter.
Even encounter
Middlesbrough reached the last 32 of the competition on their
European debut last season and controlled much of the game tonight,
although the visitors also created a number of presentable
opportunities. In the event, however, it was the home side who took
their chances to leave themselves well-placed ahead of the return
fixture at the Xanthis stadium in a fortnight.
Big names rested
Lacking Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Gaizka Mendieta and Stewart
Downing through injury and with Gareth Southgate, Franck Queudrue
and Yakubu Ayegbeni all on the bench, it was perhaps little
surprise that the home side found it hard to establish a rhythm in
the early stages. Indeed, with both teams making only their second
UEFA Cup appearances, neither settled quickly although Massimo
Maccarone might have put Middlesbrough in front, pouncing on
Ioannis Papadimitriou's short back-pass and rounding goalkeeper
Petr Pianowski only to take the ball out of play.
Boateng opener
With former Middlesbrough man Emerson prompting from midfield,
although too deep to cause the home team genuine concern, the
visitors seemed content to stifle their opponents. The gameplan
worked initially, but came unstuck two minutes before the half-hour
mark as the Greek side fell behind. Viduka, who had increasingly
dropped deeper in search of possession, created the initial chance
with a clever lobbed pass that set Maccarone clear and, although
Pianowski blocked the striker's shot, Boateng was on hand to tuck
the rebound into the unguarded net.
Middlesbrough threat
Both Maccarone and Adam Johnson had half-chances as the Premiership
team threatened to take command. That impression was reinforced in
the opening seconds of the second period as Boateng had an effort
blocked, but instead Xanthi who conceded four goals at S.S. Lazio
in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup first round, their only other away game in
the competition rallied strongly.
Clinching second
Both Stavros Labriakos and Levan Maghradze missed the target having
cleverly worked space in front of goal before Maghradze raced away
down the right to prod a shot that Mark Schwarzer gathered at the
second attempt. The Greek team were made to regret those misses
with seven minutes left, Viduka's left-foot shot deflecting off
Jacques Paviot and looping into the corner of the net to double the
English side's advantage.
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