FRANKFURT - Middlesbrough held off a late rally from VfB Stuttgart to claim a 2-1 win at the Gottlieb Daimler Stadion today and take control of their UEFA Cup first knockout round tie.
The English side moved ahead against the run of play when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink pounced on a
defensive mistake in the 20th minute.
Middlesbrough got their second two minutes after the break through Stuart Parnaby and looked to be heading for a comfortable win before a Danijel Ljuboja free kick four minutes from time gave Stuttgart a lifeline.
It was the first goal Middlesbrough have conceded in this season's competition.
Part of the ground had been briefly evacuated around half an hour before kick-off after fire alarms sounded. Supporters were soon readmitted to the stadium, one of the 12 venues for the World Cup, and the match began on time.
For Stuttgart coach Armin Veh it was a second straight defeat since he replaced Giovanni Trapattoni last week.
Stuttgart began well and in the 16th minute Jon Dahl Tomasson nipped in ahead of the defence at the near post but was just wide.
Two minutes later, Jesper Gronkjaer got clear down the right and picked out Ljuboja with a cross that the Serbia & Montenegro forward turned wide.
Within a further two minutes Middlesbrough were ahead, after making the most of a slice of luck.
Fernando Meira, bringing the ball out of defence, saw his attempted long ball hit George Boateng in the back and drop to Hasselbaink. The Dutch striker made it 1-0 with a shot that went in off of Timo Hildebrand's legs.
Boateng also set up Middlesbrough's second, this time with a more traditional assist.
The Dutchmen beat the covering defender on a run down the right and pulled the ball back for Parnaby to stroke in.
After scoring their second Middlesbrough did a fine job protecting their lead before Ljuboja's free kick, fired low into the corner from 20 metres.
- REUTERS
