Viktoria Plzen 1-1 Schalke: Huntelaar salvages precious away goal for Huub Stevens' men

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Plzen set out their stall to contain Schalke from the off, showing committed play in defence while always harboring a threat on the counter attack.

Nonetheless, it was the visitors who fashioned the first opportunities of the contest through Huntelaar, who dragged a low shot wide before firing a volley into Marek Cech’s arms from inside the area.

However, those openings were half chances at best, and it was the home side who broke the deadlock with a goal of some quality. Pavel Horvath chipped a ball in towards the edge of the area, and Darida was left completely unmarked to smash his volley home.

That goal was the cue for Plzen to tighten things up, as they defended in two banks of four to prevent the visitors from creating much in the way of goalmouth action.

The half ended with a deeply frustrated Schalke outfit unable to prise open the stubborn defence of the hosts.

Plzen went close again after the restart, first Milan Petrzela forcing Lars Unnerstall to parry before Marek Bakos fired just wide from a great position as the clock passed the hour mark.

Huub Stevens’ reacted soon after, bringing on Jefferson Farfan and Ciprian Marcia for Chinedu Obasi and Raul respectively. With a quarter of an hour to go, the substitutes repaid their summons by playing a role in the equaliser.

Farfan was afforded an inch of space and sent the ball into the area, which touched off Marcia and fell kindly to Huntelaar, who needed no second invitation to stroke the ball home.

The German outfit increased the pressure after the leveler, but Plzen held firm to deny then a further away goal. Both sides will square off again in the second leg in one week’s time at the Veltins Arena in Germany.