Ivanov own goal saves Lille at Levski
Thursday, November 4, 2010
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PFC Levski Sofia 2-2 LOSC Lille Métropole
Ivo Ivanov's 88th-minute own goal handed Lille their second equaliser in a topsy-turvy Group C contest in Bulgaria.
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LOSC Lille Métropole twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at PFC Levski Sofia, keeping the French side second and a point ahead of their hosts in Group C.
The Bulgarian outfit made the perfect start when Garra Dembélé opened the scoring after 11 minutes but Rudi Garcia's men levelled when Túlio De Melo headed in ten minutes before the break. Vladimir Gadzhev (82) appeared to have settled the contest with a wonderful finish only for Ivo Ivanov's 88th-minute own goal to deny Levski a fifth straight home win in Europe this term.
Levski's opener owed plenty to an unfortunate slip by Aurélien Chedjou – who scored the only goal in the reverse fixture two weeks ago – that squandered possession to Dembélé. The former France Under-18 international gratefully accepted the gift, skipping past the defender and firing through the legs of Mickaël Landreau for his second goal of the section – to add to the six he claimed in qualifying.
De Melo produced Lille's first effort of note midway through the half, a snap-shot from the edge of the area than cannoned back off the upright but his intent was rewarded when he rose to nod in Ludovic Obraniak's near-post corner from close range.
The second half was sparked into life by a Levski attempt, Landreau arcing backwards to tip over a drive from Gadzhev. Les Dogues responded with Franck Beria's swept effort cleared off the line by Yordan Miliev. Eden Hazard's craft was introduced for Lille in the final stages but it was Gadzhev who conjured the seemingly-decisive moment, rifling in from 30 metres after Joãozinho's lay-off.
Yasen Petrov brought on Ivanov to shore up his defence only for the substitute to loop a header past his own goalkeeper from Obraniak's free-kick with his first touch.