BBC SPORT | Football | Uefa Cup | Livi off to good start

FC Vaduz 1-1 Livingston

Livingston recorded a hard-earned draw against unknown FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the Scottish side's first foray into Europe.

Oscar Rubio opened the scoring against the run of play for Livi shortly after the interval.

But Vaduz, who play in the Swiss Second Division, scored a deserved equaliser 10 minutes later.

The home side might have scored again, but Livi held on for a draw that sets them up nicely for the return leg.

Livi boss Jim Leishman was satisfied with the result, but less so with the performance.

"I'm disappointed after going 1-0 up and then conceding a goal but we calmed down after that and played better football," he said.

"Our task was not to get beaten and not to concede a goal, but we did.

Livi's Camacho holds off Perez of Vaduz
"Their manager will be quite pleased with the performance and the passion shown by his players.

"We have a good chance of going through. We had three players missing that can be added to the squad for the next game."

If Livi were unsure of the quality of opponents they faced, it soon became clear the Liechtenstein side were no pushovers.

Vaduz had the better of the first 45 minutes as the Scots side struggled to make any impact on the game.

The visitors almost took the lead in the second minute when Barry Wilson had a header cleared off the line by Martin Stocklasa.

Eugene Dadi went close twice before Vaduz were denied a penalty just before half-time.

Eugene Dadi tries to find a way through

But Livingston took the lead six minutes into the second half from a set piece.

Gary Bollan hit the free-kick and although Vaduz keeper Peiser saved, Rubio was on hand to fire into the roof of the net.

The visitors might have extended their lead on the hour mark but Dadi failed to find David Bingham who would surely have scored.

Livi paid the price seconds later when the home side deservedly got back on level terms.

Franz Burgmeier was played through and calmly beat Javier Sanchez Broto in the Livi goal.

Broto came to Livi's rescue minutes later when he somehow got back to clear a misplaced Rubio back-pass off the line.

Dadi almost set up Barry Wilson to score but Wilson just failed to make contact with Dadi's square ball.

Vaduz pressed late on for a winner but, despite some fine build-up play, they could not find a finish.

FC Vaduz: Peiser, Martin Stocklasa, Brugnoli, Slekys, Obhafuosa, Perez (Gerster 90), Burgmeier (Beck 81), Zarn, Telser, Niederhauser, Merenda (Polverino 90).
Subs Not Used: Silva, Walz, Buchel, Michael Stocklasa.
Booked: Brugnoli, Obhafuosa.

Livingston: Broto, Brinquin, Bollan, Rubio, Bahoken, Wilson (Hart 75), Makel, Quino, Camacho (Bingham 46), Zarate, Dadi (Xausa 72).
Subs Not Used: McEwan, Fullarton, Toure-Maman, Brittain.
Booked: Bollan, Rubio, Wilson, Dadi.

Attendance: 1,322

Referee: Sinisa Zrnic (Bosnia-Herzegovina).


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