Liberec break Nantes hearts

By Matthew Spiro at La Beaujoire

An away goal from Filip Hološko helped FC Slovan Liberec seal a UEFA Intertoto Cup final against holders FC Schalke 04 despite a narrow 2-1 defeat tonight at FC Nantes Atlantique.

Yapi goals in vain
Leading 1-0 from the first leg, the Czech side twice fell behind through goals from Nantes midfield player Gilles Yapi, but Hološko's clinical equaliser after 20 minutes proved the difference between the sides.

Five Nantes changes
Nantes made five changes from the first leg, with Mickaël Landreau returning in goal, Yapi replacing the suspended Frédéric da Rocha and midfield trio Aurélien Capoue, Löic Paillères and Emerse Fae all coming in. Liberec made just one alteration, as Pavel Koštál stepped in for attacker Miroslav Slepicka to form a five-man defence.

Early goal
The French team got off to a perfect start as Yapi levelled the tie inside five minutes. Latching on to a return from Grégory Pujol, the midfield player rifled a shot inside the near post from the left-side of the penalty area.

Hauzr save
Yapi's early goal brought the sizeable home crowd to life and Nantes were soon pouring forward in search of second. Pujol was in the thick of the action and had already seen a firm header flash wide when he produced a low shot that was brilliantly pushed round the post by Liberec goalkeeper Zbynék Hauzr after 16 minutes.

Vital blow
Liberec slowly got a foothold in the game however and struck a vital blow on 20 minutes. Ivan Hodúr delivered a teasing low cross from the left and Hološko, having timed his near post run to perfection, flicked the ball neatly past Landreau.

Precise shot
Nantes appeared stunned by the strike and Landreau had to be at his best to keep out a stinging drive from Hodúr on 38 minutes. But they were back in the tie a minute before the interval. Jérémy Toulalan's threaded pass was laid off by Mamadou Bagayoko to Yapi and the Ivorian midfield player sent a precise shot in to the bottom right corner for his second of the night.

Home efforts
Still trailing on away goals, Nantes started the second half brightly with Bagayoko shooting straight at Hauzr from close range after being set up by Fae. But as the home side pushed forward, Liberec began to pose a threat on the counterattack and Michal Pospíšil had to be denied by a sharp save from Landreau after Hodúr had sent him clear in the 62nd minute.

Bratu debut
Florin Bratu came on for his home debut 18 minutes from time and was presented with a glorious chance to score with his first touch but the Romanian forward headed Stephen Drouin's cross over from close range.

Liberec through
Despite the efforts of the outstanding Yapi, whose dipping shot was tipped over the crossbar seven minutes before the end by Hauzr, Liberec resisted Nantes' late pressure and will visit Schalke next Tuesday. The home return is a fortnight later as the sides compete for a UEFA Cup first-round berth.