Dargo strike keeps Kilmarnock in the hunt

Kilmarnock 1 Viking FK 1

Craig Dargo threw Kilmarnock a lifeline at Rugby Park last night that will make their trip across the North Sea next week less perilous.

The striker's 72nd-minute equaliser was reward for an admirable performance in the Uefa Cup first round first leg with the rugged Norwegian visitors, who had protected a lead provided by Tom Sanne seconds before half time. And yet, with Kilmarnock's away record and preference for counter attack, turning the tie around in Stavanger is not beyond them.

The Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson had warned his team of both the pace and the physique of the Norwegians, who possessed two players with FA Premiership experience. Erik Nevland, the club's top scorer, flitted around the edges of the team at Manchester United, while Hannu Tihinen, on loan, was a defensive hero in West Ham's FA Cup run last term before returning to Viking when Harry Redknapp refused to pay £2m for him.

Nevland's speed constantly harassed the Kilmarnock defence, but it was Tihinen who came closest to breaking the deadlock as his knockdown to Bjorn Dahl required a vital touch from Gordon Marshall to lift it just over the bar.

Frederic Dindeleux abandoned his defensive role and produced Kilmarnock's first real threat when he met Antonio Calderon's corner and sent a header flashing just wide.

Kilmarnock sensed a goal was coming and almost got it in 26 minutes after an unconvincing stop by goalkeeper Tore Snorteland, who could only parry Jesus Sanjuan's fierce shot from Calderon's free kick. As Dargo was poised to pull the trigger, Tihinen appeared with a saving tackle. However, Rugby Park was stunned in first half stoppage time when Viking's threat on the break produced the goal the crowd feared. Dahl released Tom Sanne with a pass from inside his own half and the midfielder cut inside Dindeleux before lofting his right foot shot past Marshall.

Kilmarnock were visibly stung by the setback, but to their credit they refused to be cowed and threw everything at Viking in the second half.

The home side's frustration was compounded when Paul Di Giacomo showed great pace and skill to burn off Toni Kuivasto before crashing a right foot shot off the post from the edge of the box.

However, the breakthrough came 18 minutes from the end when Dargo finally produced the equaliser. Ally Mitchell's cross was headed down by Alan Mahood, allowing Dargo to volley in from six yards and alter the complexion of the tie.

Kilmarnock (3-5-2): Marshall; Fowler, Innes, Dindeleux; Hay (Canero, 78), Calderon (Cocard, 81), Sanjuan (Pizzo, 68), Mahood, Mitchell; Dargo, Di Giacomo. Substitutes not used: Stewart (gk), McGowne, Hessey, McLaren.

Viking Stavanger (4-5-1): Snorteland; Dahl, Kuivasto, Tihinen, Pereira; Sanne, Nygaard, Hangeland, Fuglestad, Berre; Nevland (Berneland, 83). Substitutes not used: Lars, Wright, Smerud, Tengesdal, Sorli, Heggestad.

Referee: I Dobrinov (Bulgaria).

Bookings: Viking: Tihinen.