Nilmar inspires comeback at Bayer

Nilmar inspires comeback at Bayer
(PA) Thursday 10 March 2011
Print
Email my friend
Share

Substitute Nilmar scored twice, including a last-minute winner, to help Villarreal take a significant step towards the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League with an away 3-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen tonight.

Bundesliga high-flyers Bayer, unbeaten in ten Europa League games this season, took the lead through a fine strike from Michal Kadlec but Villarreal drew level before the break through Giuseppe Rossi.

The Yellow Submarine then got themselves in front thanks to Nilmar, who netted just a minute after coming on in the 69th minute for Rossi, but that lead was short-lived before the hosts equalised through Gonzalo Castro.

That looked to be the way the game would finish, but Nilmar had other ideas and he broke through four minutes into stoppage time to prod in what could prove to be a crucial strike ahead of next week's second leg at El Madrigal.

Bayer, who had won seven of their last nine competitive games coming into tonight's match, started well. Renato Augusto brought a fingertip save out of Diego Lopez from a curling free-kick before the home side took the lead in the 33rd minute.

Rossi's attempted counter attack from a Bayer corner was halted on the halfway line and the ball fell to Kadlec, who progressed unchallenged towards the edge of the Villarreal area before thumping a 25-yard shot across Lopez and into the far corner.

That was not enough to give Bayer the lead at the interval though, with Rossi drawing Villarreal level in the 42nd minute. Carlos Marchena's through-ball put Rossi in the clear and the Italy international clinically finished past Rene Adler.

The second half was a similarly closely-fought affair to the first period, and it needed the introduction of Nilmar to help Villarreal gain the upper hand.

The Brazil ace had barely stepped foot on the pitch when he got possession on the edge of the Bayer box, turned well and then, after getting a bit of luck after the ball rebounded back to him off a home defender, fired a low shot past Adler.

That was a blow for Bayer, but Jupp Heynckes' side promptly went down the other end and equalised just a few minutes later. A cross to the far post arrived at the feet of Castro, who shaped to shoot then quickly cut inside Mario before drilling a low right-footed shot inside the near post.

Leverkusen continued to push for a third goal to try to gain an advantage to take to Spain, but it would end up being Villarreal who got the next - and final - breakthrough.

Santi Cazorla's diagonal ball over the top was brought down well by Nilmar, who showed good speed to hold off the challenge of Daniel Schwaab before poking the ball through Adler's legs for a dramatic late winner.