LuaLua makes Salzburg pay the penalty

Lomana LuaLua's added-time penalty ensured AC Omonia and FC Salzburg will head into the second leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie level at 1-1.

Huub Stevens' side looked set to be in the ascendancy in Austria next week after taking an eighth-minute lead through Gonzalo Zárate. Salzburg's dominance continued unabated for much of the first half but the script changed after the break and Omonia eventually earned a draw when LuaLua kept his nerve from the spot.

Such a result had looked a long way off when home goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevrić allowed Zárate's shot to squirm under his body and into the corner of the net. The visitors looked to capitalise and nearly added a second on the half-hour, David Mendes da Silva turning Dušan Švento's cross wide from six metres out. Mendes da Silva did hit the target just before half-time but was denied by Jevrić, while Efstathios Aloneftis's powerful drive was the extent of Omonia's attacking threat in the first period.

LuaLua's introduction almost reaped reward six minutes into the second half but Salzburg scrambled clear following a bout of defensive confusion. Omonia were fortunate to avoid falling further in arrears when Christoph Leitgeb's strike was parried away three minutes later, and eventually made Salzburg pay for their profligacy. Leandro was felled by Mendes da Silva in the penalty area and LuaLua duly dispatched the spot kick, ensuring a finely balanced second instalment on Wednesday week.