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Football

Substitute Rocchi earns Lazio draw


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Jose Mari is shown the red card by referee Michael Weiner

ROME, Italy -- Second half substitute Tommaso Rocchi scored a late equaliser to give Lazio a 1-1 home draw with Spanish side Villarreal in their opening UEFA Cup Group E match.

Villarreal, who beat Roma, Celtic and Galatasaray on the way to last season's semi-finals, took the lead in the third minute when former AC Milan striker Jose Mari ran unchallenged across the penalty box before firing a low drive past Lazio keeper Matteo Sereni.

Simone Inzaghi came close to restoring parity before half time, but his close range effort struck the post.

Jose Mari then turned from hero to villain 15 minutes from time when he was sent off for elbowing Giuliano Giannichedda in the face.

The 10 men defended deep to try and preserve their lead, but Lazio poured forward and levelled the score six minutes from time. Inzaghi's delicate flick found Rocchi, who poked the ball home from eight yards out.

Downing nets winner

Stewart Downing scored seven minutes after coming on as a substitute to give Middlesbrough a 1-0 win over Egaleo of Greece in the other group tie.

Downing replaced Boudewijn Zenden in the 70th minute and converted a superb cross from Ray Parlour by beating goalkeeper Mahamadou Sidibe with a blistering shot soon after.

The Greeks pushed forward in the first half, but created only one serious chance in the 43rd minute, when Giorgos Barkoglou shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Middlesbrough coach Steve McClaren's decision to send on Spanish playmaker Gaizka Mendieta after the interval gave the visitors the edge.

Egaleo squandered another chance in second-half injury time when Thomas Makris forced Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to tip the ball over the bar.


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