Saturday, December 12, 2009

Valencia 1-1 Slavia Prague



Valencia were held by Europa League Group B basement club Slavia in a match which finished 10-a-side after two sendings off.

The hosts' David Navarro cancelled out Riste Naumov's 27th-minute opener before Hocine Ragued and Spain star David Villa saw red in the final quarter-hour.

The result allowed Lille to take top spot courtesy of their 3-0 win over Genoa, with Slavia breaking their duck in the group.

Valencia's Nikola Zigic twice headed over in the early ! stages before Slavia took the lead.

Adam Hlousek slid the ball across the penalty area and Riste Naumov slotted the ball home at the far post.

Jordi Alba fired wide when faced with a chance to quickly level before Naumov saw a goalbound effort blocked by Ruano Alexis.

Pablo Hernandez got in the way of a shot from team-mate Maduro, who then saw another effort repelled by the fists of keeper Martin Vaniak as Valencia sought to get back on terms.

But Slavia continued to have the clearer chances, with Miguel Moya saving the lively Naumov's close-range effort and Navarro's block then denying Zdenek Senkerik.

Moya saved from Senkerik and Peter Grajciar before Valencia equalised against the run of play. Marek Suchy fouled Juan Mata and Pablo Hernandez's free-kick from the left was headed in by Navarro.

Pablo Hernandez then failed to hit the target from close range, his shot from an acute angle eventually running away for a throw-in.

Hlousek thundered a free-kick into the wall and Grajciar shot! wide fr om range before Slavia went down to 10 men - and almost suffered a further setback.

Ragued received a second yellow card for a foul on Ruben Baraja and, from the resulting free-kick, Villa drilled the ball against the upright from 25 yards.

The visitors then lost Senkerik to injury but had a let-off as Zigic clumsily shot over from inside the six-yard box.

An eventful final quarter continued apace as Villa reacted angrily to being fouled by Benjamin Vomacka and was sent off for violent conduct. Valencia were awarded a free-kick for the original offence, with Pablo Hernandez rattling the crossbar as Slavia survived for a share of the spoils.