contra attack leaves bayern low published: thursday 3 april 2008, 23.35cet
fc bayern münchen 1-1 getafe cf substitute cosmin contra struck a last-minute leveller as getafe earned a deserved first-leg draw in munich.
by john atkin from fußball arena münchen
substitute cosmin contra scored in the last minute as getafe cf grabbed an invaluable 1-1 uefa cup quarter-final first-leg draw to leave fc bayern münchen ruing their failure to convert a host of opportunities.
missed opportunity luca toni struck on 26 minutes to cap a fine start by bayern, and though getafe and their makeshift defence settled after some early nerves, this could easily have set bayern on course for a bigger win. the goalscorer, lukas podolski and bastian schweinsteiger all squandered chances, however, and after manu had headed against the upright, fellow substitute contra equalised at the death – chipping adroitly over oliver kahn and two leaping defenders on the goalline. more getafe heroics at the coliseum alfonso pérez in seven days and they could claim a uefa cup semi-final place in their maiden season in europe.
bayern impetus that would be some achievement by a team founded only in 1983, and some of their players began as if they could scarcely believe their club's progress over the last 25 years, with getafe being pegged back right from the kick-off. the german hosts drove forward in numbers, looking to expose a back line shorn of lucas licht, cata díaz and captain belenguer through injury and suspension, and it took committed last-ditch defending to keep them at bay.
desperate defending indeed, only impressive blocks around the penalty spot denied franck ribéry and schweinsteiger, while manuel tena resorted to more desperate measures when toni sent zé roberto through – bringing down the midfielder just outside the box. it was all bayern and it was not until the 20th minute that esteban granero, who will miss the second leg after collecting a yellow card, fashioned getafe's first shot on goal which was charged down outside the area.
mario chances the relief was merely temporary. the bundesliga leaders were soon in front through toni's eighth goal of this uefa cup campaign, the italian rising at the back post to nod in schweinsteiger's right-wing corner. the goal greeted the start of snowfall at the fußball arena münchen, and getafe could have been forgiven for thinking it was not their night. yet michael laudrup's side responded well and could have been level by half-time, as the unlikely figure of mario threatened twice. first his powerful header prompted a goalline clearance from the excellent philipp lahm, then on the cusp of half-time, the centre-back sprung the offside trap to meet albín's free-kick but could not get enough purchase on his effort.
casquero chance the primera división team were transformed, beginning the second period with real purpose and they should have restored parity within nine minutes. ikechukwu uche twisted and turned inside the box, working space for javier casquero to run into and, eight metres out, fire over the bar. bayern have lost just once in 15 matches against spanish opposition in the bavarian capital, though, and soon reasserted their dominance. yet first toni, then schweinsteiger, failed to take advantage when ottmar hitzfeld's men had a clear numerical advantage on the counterattack. contra would punish them in style.
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