Swansea blows it again in Europa League

SWANSEA blew a victory against Kuban Krasnodar for the second time in two weeks when it conceded a last-gasp equaliser in the Europa League today.

Swansea lets it slip

SWANSEA blew a victory against Russian side Kuban Krasnodar for the second time in two weeks when it conceded a last-gasp equaliser in the Europa League today.

But there was better news for Valencia for whom Sergio Canales's goal five minutes from time gave them a 3-2 victory at St Gallen and put them into the last 32 from Group A

English Premier League outfit side Swansea need only avoid defeat when they play St Gallen in their final game or beat Valencia at home in their next to ensure their passage to the knock-out stages.

But despite playing the last quarter of an hour with 10-men following defender Xandao's red card at the Kuban Stadium, the Russians netted two minutes into injury time through Ibrahima Balde to earn a 1-1 draw.

Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Bony had given the Welsh visitors an early lead but just as Djibril Cisse's penalty at the Liberty Stadium had cost them a win, so too this time Senegal forward Balde's clever lofted finish broke Swans' hearts.

Swansea were off to a dream start as Bony put them ahead after just nine minutes.

A slick passing move ended up down the left where Roland Lamah sent over a low cross that Alejandro Pozuelo failed to gather.

Bony was on hand to control the ball, shift his weight from one side to the other, and then fire home a low shot behind the diving Aleksandr Belenov.

Having dominated large spells with their intricate possession football, Swansea were hanging on at times in the second half.

It looked for all intent and purposes as if a goal was coming but the Russians shot themselves in the foot as Brazilian Xandao picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Alvaro Vazquez and was promptly sent off.

Kuban didn't give up, though, and Ivelin Popov's flick over the defence beat Ashley Williams and Balde ran on to chip Vorm from a tight angle to snatch a share of the spoils.

Argentine forward Pablo Piatti scored a brace after coming on as a substitute to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory in Switzerland for Valencia.

Stephane Besle had cancelled out Piatti's first goal but St Gallen had Philippe Montandon sent off for a professional foul on Jonas early in the second half, only for the Brazilian forward to miss the subsequent penalty.

The hosts promptly went in front through Goran Karanovic but Piatti equalised 15 minutes from time before Canales snatched the winner.

In a second Anglo-Russian clash, Rubin Kazan opened a clear gap at the top of Group D with a 1-0 win over Wigan.

Fullback Oleg Kuzmin hit the winner midway through the first period after escaping down the right and finding acres of space behind the Wigan backline.

Wigan remained second after Belgium's Zulte-Waregem won 1-0 at NK Maribor of Slovenia.

Fiorentina qualified for the knock-out stages with two goals in the last four minutes from Ryder Matos and Borja Valero giving them a 2-1 win at Romanians Pandurii Targu-Jiu.

Ukrainians FC Dnipro also went through from Group E after a 2-0 win over Portuguese Pacos Ferreira.

Red Bull Salzburg of Austria maintained their 100 percent record and booked a place in the last 32 with a 3-1 win at Belgians Standard Liege.

Danes Esbjerg joined them in progressing from Group C as Mick van Buren's goal gave them a 1-0 win over Swedes Elfsborg.

AFP