Savo puts Villa into last eight

SAVO MILOSEVIC and lan Taylor fired Aston Villa into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup for the first time in 20 years as Steaua Bucharest's resistance crumbled at Villa Park last night.

Milosevic, who had scored the winner in the first round against Bordeaux, again came up trumps with the vital opening goal after 71 minutes of a tense third round tie.

The Yugoslav international drilled home from the edge of the area to draw Villa level 2-2 on aggregate and that would have been good enough to take them through on the away goal rule. But then Taylor put the icing on an outstanding individual display in midfield when he scored the second goal five minutes from time to send the 35,000 crowd wild with delight.

It was no more than Villa deserved for they had dominated territorially throughout and, with steadier finishing, would not have left the tie on a knife edge for so long.

Villa, whose leading scorer Dwight Yorke failed a fitness test on a heel injury, should have taken the lead in the 18th minute.

Irish international Steve Staunton subject of speculation linking him to a big money move to Italian club Lazio had Steaua 'keeper Ritli beaten all ends up with his thumping free-kick from 20 yards, but it cannoned off the crossbar and flew over the top.

Collymore could have had a hat-trick, while Taylor and Staunton also missed some very good chances before Milošević pounced in the 71st minute. He latched onto a long ball from Staunton and broke clear of Csik, before rifling a low shot past Ritli. Then five minutes from time Hendrie released Taylor who beat the offside trap and kept his cool to plant a shot wide of the exposed Steaua 'keeper.