Thu Apr 24 17:08:05 2008

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UEFA Cup: Own goal gives Zenit draw at Bayern

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Munich, Germany (Sports Network) - Lucio scored an own goal in the 60th minute to help Zenit St. Petersburg escape the Allianz Arena with a 1-1 draw Thursday against Bayern Munich in the first leg of their UEFA Cup semifinal series.

Franck Ribery scored off his own missed penalty kick in the 18th minute to put Bayern in the lead, but disaster struck when Lucio headed into his own net in the second half.

Zenit, which beat Germany's Bayer Leverkusen in the quarterfinals. returns to Russia with the crucial away goal. The second leg is May 1.

In Thursday's other semifinal, Scotland's Rangers tied Italy's Fiorentina 0-0.

Bayern, which won the German Pokal Cup on Saturday, took control of Thursday's first leg when Ribery followed his own miss,

Bayern's Ze Roberto earned the penalty kick when Zenit Fernando Ricksen fouled him in the box. In addition to giving away the penalty kick, Ricksen was given a yellow and will miss next week's second leg.

Ribery's shot was initially saved by Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev, who dove to his right to save the PK, but the midfielder placed the rebound in the back of the net.

Bayern was in cruise control until early in the second half when Zenit started to create more offensive pressure, and the Russians were awarded with the own goal.

Zenit's Victor Fayzulin crossed into the area and Lucio directed the ball past goalie Oliver Kahn from just six yards out.

Kahn left the match six minutes later and replaced by Michael Rensing, but why he was removed is unknown.

Bayern had one final chance to escape with a win, but Lucio drove a free kick into the wall in the 91st minute, Martin Demichelis had a shot blocked seconds later and Lukas Podolski missed the target on a third chance within a minute.

The Germans played without star striker Luca Toni, who has scored two goals in each of his last four matches. Toni was suspended for yellow cards but will be back for the second leg.

Rangers failed to put a shot on goal in its game against Fiorentina, but still held on for a draw at Ibrox.

Rangers travel to Italy on May 1 for the second leg.