Lange leaves it late to level

Club Brugge KV secured a last-gasp draw against FK Austria Wien in their UEFA Cup Group C game in Vienna thanks to a goal that deflected in off Norwegian striker Rune Lange.

Two dismissals
The result means both clubs, who each finished the game with ten men, are still in with a chance of qualifying for the next round, although FC Utrecht are now eliminated.

Bright start
Brugge made the brighter start, with Croatian striker Boško Balaban causing particular problems for Austria. Indeed, home defender Saša Papac was booked as early as the fifth minute for fouling the Croatian international forward. However, after a series of miscued efforts from the visitors, it was the home side that came closest in the early stages, Ivica Vastic sending a half-volley over the bar.

Gilewicz chance
Brugge continued to threaten, but on 13 minutes Austria came close to opening the scoring after a quick break. A fine through-ball from Vastic sent Radoslaw Gilewicz scampering clear, but his fiercely struck shot went wide of the near post. Lange, Brugge's big Norwegian striker, twice went close, while the Brazilian Victor struggled to get his final ball into the right areas despite some promising runs slong the left flank.

Austria recover
As the half drew to a close, Austria played their way back into the game, largely thanks to the clever promptings of Czech pair Štepán Vachoušek and Libor Sionko. Only some sharp defending from Birger Maertens prevented them from gifting Vastic a simple finish. On 41 minutes Sionko's back-heeled flick allowed Vachoušek to shoot from the edge of the area, but Tomislav Butina tipped it wide.

Opening goal
Austria came out hungry after the break and soon made up for their disappointing first 45 minutes by taking the lead. Sionko scampered clear on the right before squaring for Gilewicz just five minutes after the restart. Brugge goalkeeper Butina was quick off his line but the Polish striker got there just ahead of him and the ball ricocheted off both and into the net, despite the best efforts of Maertens to clear.

Didulica out
The goal gave the home team confidence and they pushed forward eagerly, with Vastic, Sionko and Vachoušek shooting from range. Amid this resurgence, Austria suffered a blow as Joseph Didulica limped off to be replaced by Hungarian Szabolcs Safar in goal.

Brugge rally
Safar was soon tested with Balaban skipping past a man and shooting powerfully but straight at the goalkeeper. Brugge were fighting back: first Lange, with a chance at the far post, then Victor, with a low drive that went just wide, came close to an equaliser as his side rallied.

Dramatic equaliser
Despite the dismissal of Victor for violent conduct, Brugge did manage to make their late pressure tell. Two minutes into added time, Balaban's free-kick struck Lange and deflected past the wrong-footed Safar to secure a point. To compound Austria's disappointment, Papac was sent off in the dying seconds for a second bookable offence.