UCD travel to Bulgaria for next Sunday's return believing this tie is still alive after twice coming from behind to earn a draw with FC Velbazhd in a thrilling InterToto Cup first round, first leg game at Belfield yesterday.
Match fitness was the key element in separating the sides at the finish as Velbazhd, whose season only finished the previous weekend, punished rusty defending to lead 2-1 at the interval.
Central defender Robert McAuley proved UCD's unlikely hero with two goals; deservedly giving them a 12th minute lead when heading home John Martin's corner only for Ivan Stotychev to equalise four minutes later.
Both sides swapped good chances before Velbazhd again availed of clumsy defending to take the lead four minutes before the break through Mikhail Mikhailov.
Boyko Velichkov gave the visitors the lead again from the penalty spot but UCD never gave up the fight and Ciaran Martyn deservedly equalised on 76 minutes.
UCD: Ryan; McLoughlin, Delaney, McAuley, Mahon; Dunne, Martin, Kavanagh, O'Donnell; O'Byrne, Bennis. Subs: Martyn for O'Donnell (67 mins.), Kilmurray for Bennis (77 mins.), Timmins for Martin (88 mins.).
FC Velbazhd: Petkov; Kotev, Goshev, Kolev; Pavlov, A. Stoyanov, Litera, G. Petrov, Hristev; Stoychev, Mikhailov. Subs: Velichkov for Litera (58 mins.), R. Petrov for Pavlov (70 mins.), Metouchev for Mikhailov (79 mins.).
Referee: D Delevic (Yugoslavia).
