Blackburn Rovers 2 Larissa 1:Blackburn's European history is pockmarked by ignominious exits to unheralded sides. Now add the name of Larissa to a list that includes Genclerbirligi and Trelleborgs, despite a spirited second-leg showing.
Although Blackburn's 2-0 defeat in Greece made goals an absolute necessity, Mark Hughes opted to retain the side that had defeated Sunderland. It meant the exclusion again of Benni McCarthy and Morten Gamst Pedersen as Roque Santa Cruz continued as a solitary striker, supplemented by David Bentley.
With Ilias Kyriakidis practically man-marking the England international, however, it suggested the former Blackburn player Giorgos Donis, now Larissa's manager, had paid close attention to his scouting reports from the Stadium of Light. Donis had made one alteration to his side, withdrawing the striker Cleyton into midfield whenever Blackburn had possession.
Blackburn's task, already difficult enough, was made more daunting when the Brazilian, as he had done in the first leg, beat Brad Friedel to put Larissa ahead. His accomplished finish followed a left-wing cross from Nektarios Alexandrou. Cleyton evaded David Dunn before drilling his shot across Friedel.
With four goals now Blackburn's minimum requirement to progress, they were left with no option other than concerted attack. But translating intent into opportunities proved difficult and their initial attempts were limited to Bentley's set-pieces.
When the Larissa goalkeeper Stefanos Kotsolis was called into action, it was to thwart Dunn on three occasions.
The midfielder's persistence reaped a reward, though, when he was upended by Kotsolis. Matt Derbyshire's first attempt from the penalty spot was saved but the Swiss referee Claudio Circhetta ordered it to be retaken. Unfazed, Derbyshire despatched it into the left-hand corner to give Blackburn a glimmer of hope.
Thanks to Stephen Warnock's sense of adventure Blackburn finally took the lead on the night. Bentley's deep cross was met by the unchecked left-back with a volley of technical proficiency and perfect placement.
Guardian Service
BLACKBURN:Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Ooijer, Warnock, Mokoena, Kerimoglu, Derbyshire, Bentley, Dunn, Santa Cruz. Subs: Brown, Savage, McCarthy, Pedersen, Khizanishvili, Rigters, Kane.
LARISSA:Kotsolis, Galitsios, Dabizas, Foerster, Katsiaros, Kiriakidis, Alexandrou, Fotakis, Sarmiento, Bakayoko, Cleyton. Subs: Kipouros, Kotsios, Gikas, Parra, Kalantzis, Venetis, Bahramis.
Referee: Claudio Circhetta (Switzerland)
