MIDDLESBROUGH’S European odyssey remains on track despite a frenetic, controversial and faintly comical finale to the first leg of their Uefa Cup tie against the Austrian champions. Roland Kollmann, AK Graz’s best player, top scorer and chief sulker, managed to salvage a lifeline by curling a wonderful 25-yard shot into the top corner as the clock ticked down, but then got himself sent off for diving and, to heap insult on injury, slipped and fell over as he tried to kick an advertising hoarding. Graz’s hopes of stopping the Teesside bandwagon may have kicked the bucket at the same time.
Kollmann will be banned from next week’s return leg and away goals from Boudewijn Zenden and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink should be enough to prolong the adventure as Middlesbrough make the seamless transition from European novelty act to genuine contenders.
However, they will need to iron out the defensive frailties that undermined their second-half improvement as an attacking force. “I’m disappointed over the way we conceded the goals and we should have won,” Steve McClaren, the Middlesbrough manager, said. “If we want to progress, then we will have to defend better.”
McClaren had singled out Kollmann as Graz’s most potent threat and 27 goals last season, plus one against England last September, leant credence to the assessment. However, the Austria striker had a troubled start, being booked for prodding the ball into the empty net by an erratic referee. Kollmann had the final say by securing a draw, but it may be that his most decisive act was in depriving his side of their creative core for the trip to Middlesbrough. When Walter Schachner, the Graz coach, sent on Gernot Sick in the dying minutes, it was probably an indicator of his mood.
Graz had other reasons to be disgruntled. With only 20 minutes gone, Kollmann shrugged off his troubles to flight a free kick into the danger zone. Anton Ehmann found himself with a free header six yards out but the captain’s example was pitiful, his effort sailing over Mark Schwarzer’s bar. Others were happy to follow it anyway and Imants Bleidelis, having fluffed a volley in the opening minute , missed the best opportunity of the opening period after a shambolic collision between Franck Queudrue and Chris Riggott.
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As McClaren walked around the pitch to take his place in the directors’ box at the start of the second half, he tried to encourage the Middlesbrough fans to get behind their side. It seemed to do the trick and Middlesbrough looked instantly more threatening. The upturn reaped dividends after 52 minutes when Zenden picked up the ball in the Graz half, drifted infield and rifled a 20-yard shot inside the near post.
However, the persisting defensive malaise meant that the lead never looked secure and Riggott almost shepherded Graz down an escape route when his awful cross-field pass was picked up by Kollmann and he slipped a perfectly weighted ball to Mario Bazina.
Schwarzer came to his rescue, but it proved a dummy run for the first Graz goal after 64 minutes. Schwarzer again got a hand to Bazina’s shot but this time could not stop it from trickling over the line.
Graz enjoyed parity for only two minutes before Downing’s fine cross left Hasselbaink unable to miss with his header.Then came Kollmann’s mixed bag of a cameo, a combination of the daft and deft, that ensured that Middlesbrough would depart feeling optimistic — and disappointed.
AK GRAZ (4-4-2): A Schranz — G Plassnegger, A Ehmann, M Tokic, E Pogatetz — I Bleidelis (sub: J Standfest, 71min), S Muratovic, R Aufhauser (sub: G Sick, 90), M Dollinger (sub: M Amerhauser, 72) — M Bazina, R Kollmann. Substitutes not used: F Almer, D Ramusch, A Skoro, M Majstorovic. Booked: Kollmann. Sent off: Kollmann.
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MIDDLESBROUGH (4-5-1): M Schwarzer — M Reiziger, C Riggott, G Southgate, F Queudrue — J Morrison, R Parlour, Doriva, B Zenden, S Downing — J F Hasselbaink. Substitutes not used: C Nash, S Parnaby, C Cooper, A Davies, J-D Job, S Nemeth, D Graham. Booked: Reiziger, Riggott, Southgate, Hasselbaink.
Referee: E Trivkovic (Croatia).