Danish delight at Villa’s late lapse

Aston Villa conceded a last-minute equaliser to let slip an early advantage in their Intertoto Cup third-round tie with Odense. Martin O’Neill’s men had looked like claiming a hard-fought win after Martin Laursen headed them ahead with 14 minutes remaining on a rainswept night, but their relief was shortlived as their impressive hosts refused to lie down and earned just reward for an enterprising display through Anders Moller Christensen.

It was Odense’s second equaliser of the game, after Steve Sidwell’s own-goal on his competitive debut for Villa cancelled out John Carew’s early effort.

The opener had come after only seven minutes as Villa started well and threatened to overrun the Danish side. Craig Gardner stretched the defence as he crossed into the box and Ashley Young fired in a fierce first-time shot. Arek Onyszko saved but could do little as Carew pounced on the rebound.

The Danes spurned a good chance to level after 18 minutes when Henrik Hansen picked out Djiby Fall, who could only head tamely at Stuart Taylor, but it brought Odense to life and Villa were fortunate not to be trailing at half-time. Odense’s equaliser had a touch of fortune about it, as Atle Roar Haaland’s cross was missed by Hansen and Sidwell diverted the ball into his own net, but Villa started to lose their composure under pressure as Carew and Young were booked for late tackles. With Hansen sending a dipping shot from the edge of the area just over, O’Neill was relieved when the interval came.

Villa’s problems continued early in the second half as Taylor failed to deal with a corner at the first attempt and a second required Gardner to head off the line from Hans Henrik Andreasen.

Villa offered little as Odense continued to attack, particularly down the left, where Gardner was often left exposed. But the visitors rode the storm and, when Young floated in a free-kick, Laursen leapt bravely to power in his header from close range. The Dane went close to another moments later which Onyszko did well to save, but Villa were caught out after 90 minutes as they failed to deal with a long ball and Fall teed up Christensen.

Man of the match Martin Laursen (Aston Villa)