First Champions League point, goal for Young Boys in Valencia draw
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Valencia's Jose Gaya in action with Young Boys' Kevin Mbabu REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
BERN (Reuters) - Champions League debutants Young Boys scored their first goal and picked up their first ever point in the competition with a deserved 1-1 draw at home to Valencia on Tuesday.
Michy Batshuayi gave Valencia a first-half lead -- their first goal in Group H -- but Guillaume Hoarau equalised with a penalty after the break.
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Young Boys' Kevin Mbabu is shown a yellow card by referee Andris Treimanis REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
Valencia, who have drawn nine games in all competitions, this season, have two points from three games in Group H with Young Boys on one. Manchester United (4) were hosting leaders Juventus (6) later on Tuesday.
Young Boys goalkeeper Marco Woelfli finally made his Champions League debut at the age of 36 having spent all but one season of his career at the club.
Batshuayi was caught offside a couple of times early on but made no mistake in the 26th minute.
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Valencia's Michy Batshuayi clashes with Young Boys' Marco Wolfli REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
Loris Benito hit his clearance straight against Carlos Soler who flicked the ball through to the Belgian and he rounded Woelfli to put Valencia in front.
Valencia goalkeeper Neto saved a Christian Fassnacht header and Kevin Mbabu fired wide of the post after a loose ball ran free to him as Young Boys came back strongly after the break. The Swiss champions finally scored in the 55th minute when Djibril Sow was tripped by Daniel Parejo and Hoarau calmly converted the penalty to make a small piece of Champions League history. Sekou Sanogo came agonisingly close to giving Young Boys a memorable late win when he headed against the inside of the post from a corner.
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Valencia's Carlos Soler is shown a yellow card by referee Andris Treimanis REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
(Reporting by Brian Homewood; editing by Martyn Herman)
Soccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Valencia's Rodrigo in action with Young Boys' Sandro Lauper REUTERS/Stefan WermuthSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Young Boys' Guillaume Hoarau celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates REUTERS/Stefan WermuthSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Young Boys are awarded a penalty by referee Andris Treimanis after Young Boys' Djibril Sow is fouled by Valencia's Dani Parejo REUTERS/Stefan WermuthSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Valencia's Michy Batshuayi scores their first goal REUTERS/Stefan WermuthSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Valencia's Michy Batshuayi scores their first goal REUTERS/Stefan WermuthSoccer Football - Champions League - Group Stage - Group H - BSC Young Boys v Valencia - Stade de Suisse, Bern, Switzerland - October 23, 2018 Valencia coach Marcelino Garcia during the match REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
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