Odense BK 2, Aston Villa 2
SIDWELL HELL
STEVE SIDWELL suffered a debut nightmare, scoring an own-goal before Anders Moller Christensen's last-gasp equaliser wrecked Martin Laursen's Intertoto Cup homecoming.
Villa's Great Dane Laursen looked to have spared Sidwell's blushes by heading Martin O'Neill's men back in front on 76 minutes.
Former Chelsea midfielder Sidwell had been the villain after putting through his own net to cancel out John Carew's early opener.
Laursen's header from an Ashley Young free-kick restored Villa's advantage, only for Christensen to fire in a stoppage-time leveller to leave it all square before next Saturday's return leg at Villa Park.
Deflection
Sidwell's Villa debut was wrecked by his 25th-minute own goal. He could not get out of the way when Atle Haland's left-wing cross struck him on the leg and the deflection left keeper Stuart Taylor stranded.
Villa had been coasting after Carew's clinical seventh-minute strike from close range. The Norwegian giant reacted quickly to blast in the rebound after Ashley Young's volley was fumbled by the Odense keeper.
The Danes dominated the second half, with Craig Gardner scrambling a Hans Henrik Andreasen header off the line, Baye Djiby Fall nodding wide and Taylor making a double save from Abgalonsen and Fall before the late drama.
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