Stuttgart 1 Middlesbrough 2: There may have been no trip to Stuttgart's Porsche museum for Middlesbrough yesterday but their quick-fire counter-attacks left Stuttgart resembling an old crock left standing at traffic lights.
Despite their concession of a late goal, an excursion to either Bruges or Roma in the last 16 is within the grasp of Steve McClaren's side, who will be favourites to prevail in the second leg in two weeks' time.
Tipped for the sack this time last week, McClaren's decision to devote considerable resources to marking Thomas Hitlzsperger out of the game while playing very much on the break looked shrewd as Boro built on last Saturday's surprise Premiership win against Chelsea.
However, at one point around 40 minutes before kick-off, it looked as if this match might not happen. Responding to urgent demands to clear the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion as swiftly as possible, the crowd emptied from the vast arena but the somewhat over-dramatic security alert simply turned out to be a false fire alarm.
But then safety-first was very much the theme of an evening in which McClaren arranged Boro in conservative 4-5-1 guise with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink starting as the lone striker while Yakubu, who so terrorised Chelsea on Saturday, conserved his energies on the bench in preparation for Sunday's FA Cup date at Preston.
Yet, although the stadium was increasingly mesmerised by Jesper Gronkjaer's wing play another former Chelsea player proved even more incisive. McClaren's decision to start Hasselbaink certainly looked inspired when the striker claimed his 10th goal of the season and fifth in his last seven games with his supposedly weaker left foot.
Even so Hasselbaink, whose 18-yard shot appeared to brush the inside of the keeper Timo Hildebrand's leg en route into the net, would be the first to admit his strike contained a comedic element. It originated with a defensive error, Fernando Meira's hashed defensive clearance going straight to George Boateng who immediately cued up the scorer. Desperate to impress Armin Veh, Stuttgart redoubled their efforts with Gronkjaer delivering a stream of dangerous crosses into the box. Moreover, Hitzlsperger escaped to send a hallmark left-footed 30-yarder whistling fractionally wide. Danijel Ljuboja's curling shot was inches off-target and only Chris Riggott's splendid block denied Tomasson a goal as much of Boro's defending turned as messy as a pitch cutting up badly in the wake of torrential rain.
The second half began with Boateng pulling out to the right wing, and doing an excellent Gronkjaer impression, accelerating before dodging his marker and delivering a deep cross. Running onto it, Stuart Paranaby, who had temporarily swapped positions with Boateng, half volleyed beyond a bemused Hildebrand.
The visitors threatened to make it three when Stewart Downing outstripped the home defence and picked out an unattended Hasselbaink only to see his team-mate shoot straight at Hildebrand.
It prompted Veh to rearrange his side, withdrawing the largely shackled Hitzlsperger and replacing him with Mario Gomez.
Such boldness was rewarded when Boro conceded their first Uefa Cup goal of the season. Ljuboja blended power and precision to beat Mark Schwarzer with a free-kick, thereby setting up an intriguing second leg.
Guardian Service
VFB STUTTGART: Hildebrand, Stranzl (Beck 46), Meira, Delpierre, Gerber, Gronkjaer, Meissner (Gentner 80), Soldo, Hitzlsperger (Gomez 66), Tomasson, Ljuboja. Subs not used: Heinen, Babbel, Tiffert, Magnin. Booked: Hitzlsperger, Meira. Goal: Ljuboja 86.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Riggott, Southgate, Pogatetz, Doriva, Davies, Boateng (Kennedy 81), Rochemback, Downing (Johnson 73), Hasselbaink (Yakubu 85). Subs not used: Jones, Bates, Taylor, McMahon. Booked: Pogatetz, Davies. Goals: Hasselbaink 20, Parnaby 46.
Referee: Alain Hamer (Luxembourg)
