Blackburn Rovers - 1 CSKA Sofia - 1 Blackburn did everything in their power to add another disaster story to their woeful record in Europe but, despite throwing away a 3-0 lead here last night, they managed to make it into the UEFA Cup second round for the first time in their history.
Rovers, for whom David Thompson scored one of his finest goals to break the deadlock, almost handed CSKA the honour of achieving one of Europe's greatest fightbacks as the Bulgarian hosts mounted an awesome effort in the final 30 minutes. Perhaps it should have been no surprise that Blackburn should make it so hard for themselves, given their record of one win in their 11 previous outings in Europe.
Graeme Souness' team certainly appeared to have a job on their hands following the 1-1 first leg draw last month. And the atmosphere in the stadium last night was incredibly hostile.
After surviving a testing 28 minutes, however, Blackburn broke the deadlock with a 30-yard shot from Thompson that went in off a post after he had been teed up by Egil Ostenstad.
Blackburn's reaction was to chase a second goal and they were rewarded 11 minutes into the second half, when Ostenstad scored his first goal for two years after an unselfish pass from Andy Cole left him with an open goal from six yards.
Blackburn, with the second round in their sights, further increased their lead when Damien Duff sent a left-foot shot into the far corner following Lucas Neill's long ball. However, instead of closing the game down, Rovers invited CSKA on to the attack and almost paid the penalty.
The hosts scored two quick goals, both headers from substitutes, Emil Gargorov and the Brazilian Agnaldo, to leave the visitors facing a nervous final 15 minutes. And the nightmare scenario arrived when Neill conceded a penalty three minutes from time with a foul on Velizar Dimitrov.
Gargorov scored from the spot, but CSKA threw away their last hope of winning the game when Dimitrov was sent off in injury time for a push on Thompson.
CSKA SOFIA: Kolev, Antonov, Gueye, Galin Ivanov, Carlos, Charras, Yanchev, Petrov, Brito (Gargarov 61), Mukasi (Cordeiro Pereira 61), Dimitrov. Subs Not Used: Ivaylo Ivanov, Varbanov, Zlatinov, Sakiri, Yanev. Sent Off: Dimitrov (90). Booked: Carlos, Antonov. Goals: Gargarov 66, Cordeiro Pereira 69, Gargarov 88 pen.
BLACKBURN: Friedel, Taylor, Berg, Johansson, Neill, Thompson, Tugay (Gillespie 63), Dunn, Duff, Cole, Ostenstad. Subs Not Used: Kelly, Todd, Grabbi, Hignett, Mahon, Danns. Booked: Neill, Ostenstad. Goals: Thompson 30, Ostenstad 56, Duff 58.
Referee: A Yefet (Israel).
