Draw keeps Lech and Depor in contention
Thursday, December 4, 2008
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KKS Lech Poznań 1-1 RC Deportivo La Coruña
Both teams remain in the qualification shake-up from Group H after Hernán Rengifo cancelled out a second-minute opener by Deportivo's Diego Colotto.
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KKS Lech Poznań and RC Deportivo La Coruña both remain in the qualification shake-up from UEFA Cup Group H after a score draw in Poland.
Parity
Diego Colotto gave the visitors a perfect start when he struck two minutes in with a first-time finish. Lech levelled, however, three minutes before half-time through Hernán Rengifo and would have collected all three points had Deportivo goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia not denied the Ekstraklasa club with some fine saves. The result means Lech must defeat already eliminated Feyenoord in their final game to stand a chance of advancing, while third-placed Deportivo, two points better off, need to do likewise against AS Nancy-Lorraine.
Early goal
Colotto scored when a corner from Andres Guardado was missed by two Lech players at the near post and he guided a left-footed shot past Ivan Turina. That merely jolted the hosts into action, though, and Semir Stilić threatened an equaliser when he curled a 25-metre effort narrowly over as Lech battled to keep their European hopes alive.
The equaliser
Jakub Wilk was next to try his luck when he fired off target, yet Lech did get the goal their pressure merited four minutes before the break. Stilić, Manuel Arboleda and Rengifo were all involved in a one-touch passing move that sliced open the Spanish team's defence and ended with Rengifo slotting past Aranzubia from a central position inside the penalty area.
Late chance
The same player nearly put Lech ahead moments later, shooting across goal after getting in behind the Deportivo back line, but it was the Liga side who attacked first from the restart as Cristian tested Turina with a long-range drive. Nevertheless, Lech soon regained their momentum and Aranzubia had to make a block from Wilk's volley before tipping over a free-kick from Stilić. It looked a matter of time before the Polish outfit grabbed a second goal and Arboleda should have done exactly that with 18 minutes to go but dragged his attempt wide with only the keeper to beat.