Late leveller dents Villa bid

2:19am Sunday 20th July 2008

Aston Villa conceded a last-minute equaliser to let slip an early advantage in their Intertoto Cup third-round tie with Odense, which ended 2-2.

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.

Yet Villa's 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 new signing Steve Sidwell had put through his own net on his competitive debut to cancel out John Carew's early effort.

The opener came after just six minutes as Villa started well and threatened to overrun the Danish side.

Craig Gardner stretched the defence as he crossed into the box and Young fired in a fierce first-time shot.

Goalkeeper Arek Onyszko saved but could do little as Carew pounced on the rebound to fire ruthlessly into the net.

Odense's equaliser had a touch of fortune about it, however, as Atle Roar Haland's cross was missed by Hansen and Sidwell diverted the ball into his own net.

But they went back ahead when Laursen leapt bravely to power in his header from close range from Ashley Young's cross.

Laursen went close to another moments later when Onyszko saved and Villa were caught out after 89 minutes as they failed to deal with a long ball and Fall teed up Christensen.

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