Blackburn nerves stretched to limit

CSKA Sofia 3 Blackburn Rovers 3 Aggregate 4-4; Blackburn win on away goals

Blackburn Rovers survived an intimidating atmosphere in the Bulgarian Army stadium here yesterday and a fightback by CSKA to reach the second round of the Uefa Cup thanks to their two-goal burst early in the second half.

Having been held 1-1 in the first leg, Rovers faced a difficult match but appeared to be coasting when goals by David Thompson, Egil Ostenstad and Damien Duff gave them a 3-0 lead by the 57th minute. But CSKA fought for their pride and squared the match and the aggregate when, following a goal by Agnaldo, Emil Gargorov added his second from the penalty spot with two minutes remaining after Lucas Neill brought down Velizar Dimitrov.

However, Bulgarian hopes of pulling off a sensational victory disappeared when Dimitrov, who had flattened Henning Berg in a third-minute challenge, was sent off for a lunge at Thompson in the last minute.

Berg was fortunate after the first incident when the referee waved away claims for at least a free-kick when the Norwegian brought down MacDonald Mukasi on the edge of the area. But Rovers' nerves seemed to settle after 31 minutes when Thompson scored a stunning goal. Ostenstad, partnered in attack by Andy Cole, nodded the ball into Thompson's path 30 yards out and the midfielder took one touch before driving a thunderous shot in off a post.

CSKA's Marcos Charras hurried his shot when he might have equalised before half-time, but 11 minutes after the interval Ostenstad made it 2-0 from Cole's flick-on after a penetrating pass by Tugay Kerimoglu. Rovers made it 3-0 two minutes later when Duff ran on to David Dunn's pass.

Blackburn may have thought their work was done but the substitute Gargorov pulled a goal back after 66 minutes with a header and three minutes later another substitute, Agnaldo, pulled another goal back with another header.

Rovers were on their nerve ends after Neill's clumsy challenge on Dimitrov gave Gargorov the chance to equalise in the 88th minute. But Dimitrov's indiscretion helped to take the pressure out of what could have been a frantic finale.

CSKA Sofia: Kolev; Antonov, Gueye, G Ivanov, Carlos, Charras, Yanchev, Petrov, Brito (Gargorov, 61), Mukasi (Agnaldo, 61), Dimitrov. Substitutes not used: I Ivanov, Varbanov, Zlatinov, Sakiri, Yanev.

Blackburn: Friedel; Taylor, Berg, Johansson, Neill, Thompson, Tugay (Gillespie 63), Dunn, Duff, Cole, Ostenstad. Substitutes not used: Kelly (gk), Todd, Grabbi, Hignett, Mahon, Danns.

Referee: A Yefet (Israel).