Vaslui held at home by ten-man Zürich
Thursday, September 29, 2011
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FC Vaslui 2-2 FC Zürich
Despite leading with 11 minutes remaining, the hosts were held to their second consecutive 2-2 draw in Group D at home to ten-man Zürich.
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FC Vaslui were held to their second consecutive 2-2 draw in UEFA Europa League Group D at home to ten-man FC Zürich.
Alexandre Alphonse's header had given the visitors the lead just past the half-hour but they were reduced to ten men on 62 minutes when Raphael Koch was dismissed before Wesley levelled the scores from the resulting penalty. Mike Temwanjera put the hosts ahead 13 minutes from time but substitute Admir Mehmedi earned Zürich a share of the spoils two minutes later.
The Swiss side controlled the opening exchanges; Amine Chermiti brought a smart save out of Vaslui goalkeeper Vytautas Černiauskas but could not stop Zürich making the breakthrough. Silvan Aegerter received the ball in space on the right wing, and his teasing cross was met by Alphonse, who headed in to give Urs Fischer's side the advantage.
The second half stood in stark contrast to the methodical play of the first as Vaslui piled on the pressure. Viorel Hizo's men equalised on 62 minutes after Koch brought down Wesley and received his marching orders. The Vaslui captain then sent Johnny Leoni the wrong way from the spot to draw his side level.
Vaslui were in the ascendency and grabbed their second when Temwanjera latched on to a neat Adailton through ball before finishing with aplomb into the bottom left-hand corner. Moments later, ten-man Zürich netted a surprise equaliser as Mehmedi rose highest to head in Ricardo Rodriguez's floated free-kick. Leoni pushed an Adailton effort onto the bar as the home side pushed forward in search of a winner, but it finished all square.