BATE Borisov deny debutants Plzen
Reuters - Tuesday 13 September 2011, 21:23
PRAGUE - BATE Borisov denied Viktoria
Plzen victory in their first ever Champions League group stage
game when a second-half goal from Renan Bressan secured a 1-1
draw in their Group H opener on Tuesday.
Forward Marek Bakos put the Czech champions, who won six out
of six in the three qualifying rounds they played, ahead a few
seconds before half-time from close-range after a perfect
cross-pass from the left side by Petr Jiracek.
Plzen exerted early pressure but Borisov's defence rarely let
them near a sight of goal while the Belarussian side wasted
opportunities of their own.
"I am disppointed now right after the match but it probably
was a deserved draw," said Plzen skipper and playmaker Pavel
Horvath. "[But] I have said I would be happy with every point
from the Champions league.
"We had some shooting positions that we should have resolved
better, be more productive... maybe we made a few errors in
passing that we normally don't do."
BATE striker Mateja Kezman, the most experienced man on the
pitch who has played for a string of European teams including
Chelsea, shot into the side netting on the half hour and had a
goal ruled out for offside 15 minutes into the second half.
Plzen went close to increasing their lead in the 63rd minute
but Vaclav Pilar, who impressed throughout, failed to capitalise
on a pass into the box, firing a weak shot that was easily
smothered by keeper Aleksandr Gutor.
BATE then equalised through Bressan, who ran on to Filipp
Rudik's pass to slot home.
"Both teams showed some anxiety at the beginning, it was the
first match after all," said BATE coach Viktor Goncharenko.
"Plzen players shook it off earlier. Our opponents were more
aggressive at the beginning.
"We managed to equalise and I think that after all the draw
is fair. We are satisfied given that we were behind."