BATE hold AEK in Greece

Volodko: On target

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AEK Athens and BATE Borisov shared an entertaining 2-2 draw in Greece to stay in the Europa League Group I hunt.

Ismael Blanco gave the home side the dream start when netting in the first minute before Vitaly Rodionov equalised 16 minutes later.

Alexander Volodko added a second for the visitors on 26 minutes before Gustavo Manduca restored parity six minutes before the break.

Igor Shitov was then sent-off for the visitors for a second bookable offence on 77 minutes as the tie ended in stalemate.

The draw leaves the two sides five points behind group leaders Benfica, who won 2-0 at Everton.

But they are only two points behind the second-placed Toffees, meaning all is still to play for with two matches remaining in Group I.

Early goal

The home side were in front in under 30 seconds when Blanco beat Sergey Veremko with a right-foot shot from inside the area, after a pass was threaded through by Krisztian Nemeth.

Pantelis Kafes' header on the end of Manduca's corner flew just wide as Athens threatened again in only the fourth minute.

Kafes tried his luck again but missed from the edge of the area and with chances continuing to flow at either end, it was no surprise when BATE got the equaliser in the 17th minute.

Skavysh's pass found Rodionov, who scored right-footed from the edge of the area.

And eight minutes later, BATE were in front - in dramatic fashion too, Volodko beating Diego Saja in the bottom right corner with a searing shot from 35 yards.

Alexander Yurevich almost extended the lead with a right-foot shot from 20 yards, which hit the post, and Volodko shot over from similar range.

Leveller

Yet in the 39th minute, it was Yurevich who committed the foul on Ignacio Scocco which conceded the free-kick for AEK's leveller.

Scocco floated the ball in, and Manduca easily beat Veremko with his header into the top corner.

AEK were within inches of regaining the lead when Manduca hit the bar with his left-foot shot from inside the area eight minutes after the break - and Nemeth brought a useful save out of Veremko before the hour.

Nemeth kept threatening from dangerous positions and BATE defender Shitov was then sent off for a second yellow card on 77 minutes.

But a Scocco shot from distance which hit the post in the 79th minute and then a corner from the same player which needed a save from Veremko were the closest anyone came to a winner as the tie ended in stalemate.