UEFA Cup | Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:15
Nonda strike gives Rovers hope
By Chris Stanton - Created on 14 Feb 07
Bayer Leverkusen beat Blackburn Rovers 3-2, but Shabani Nonda's
late goal will give Mark Hughes' team hope ahead of the second leg
of this Uefa Cup tie.
First half strikes from Jan Callsen-Bracker and Carsten Ramelow
were added to by Bernd Schneider, and Hughes was grateful for the
away goals of David Bentley and the 86th minute strike by
Nonda.
Rovers should have been a goal up inside the first minute, however.
Bentley crossed and Jason Roberts, with the goal gaping, failed to
make contact inside the six-yard box.
Another Bentley cross then saw Benni McCarthy head over at the near
post as Rovers had much the better of the opening exchanges.
Leverkusen had seen only a Schneider free-kick blocked but took the
lead 18 minutes in after Callsen-Bracker eluded the marking of
McCarthy to head home his first senior goal.
Andrei Voronin sliced wide when well placed for the hosts, while,
at the other end, McCarthy saw a shot blocked by Hans-Jorg Butt at
his near post and Aaron Mokoena shoot wide.
Rovers drew level after Bentley stepped up to drill a free-kick
past Butt five minutes before half-time after Roberts had drawn the
foul.
Three minutes later Leverkusen regained the lead when Ramelow - who
had deflected Bentley's effort - benefited from a deflection of his
own, his shot, via the chest of Ryan Nelsen, wrongfooting Brad
Friedel.
Just as in the first period, Rovers should have claimed a goal
inside 90 seconds of the whistle. Roberts crossed from the right
and David Dunn headed wide on the stretch.
But the Germans grew in the second period - Schneider turned Brett
Emerton and a left-wing cross flashed wide for the hosts before
Michael Skibbe's side doubled their lead.
Rovers' left-back Stephen Warnock was dispossessed by Gonzalo
Castro who crossed for Schneider to flick a shot in off the far
post.
Rovers had offered precious little as an attacking presence in the
second half, but after Bentley's driven free-kick was only
half-cleared, Nonda pounced from close range to reduce the
arrears.