Ngog gives Reds first leg lead

David Ngog's late goal gave Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Unirea Urziceni in the first leg of the Europa League last 32 tie at Anfield.

The French striker headed home from close range with 10 minutes remaining to finally break the Romanian champions' stubborn resistance, with substitute Dani Pacheco claiming an assist.

Despite the home side's domination, the game appeared to be heading for a stalemate with Unirea defending doggedly throughout until Ngog's intervention ensured the Reds will take a lead into next week's second leg clash in Bucharest.

Liverpool were boosted by the inclusion of Jamie Carragher in their line-up after the vice-captain recovered from the abductor injury he sustained against Arsenal, while there were also starting berths for Alberto Aquilani and Fabio Aurelio.

The Reds hadn't kicked a ball in this competition since March 2004 when Marseille eliminated Gerard Houllier's side on a dramatic evening at the Stade Velodrome.

However, along with Juventus and Inter Milan, Liverpool are able to boast the most number of trophy wins in the tournament with three successes - and becoming the first team to lift the famous silverware for a fourth time will serve as a real incentive for Rafael Benitez's charges.

As it will for the fans, who defiantly turned out in force to offer their vociferous support to the team on a night when UEFA continued their trial of having an extra match official behind each goal.

Liverpool started with intent and Steven Gerrard drew a flying save out of goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis inside the opening 30 seconds after some good work involving Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio.

The Lithuanian stopper was worked again soon after when he was required to turn Kuyt's low drive across goal around the post before Aurelio swung a free-kick narrowly wide.

Unirea had come into this game on the back of a friendly victory over Northwich Victoria on Monday evening, but the Romanians saw virtually nothing of the ball in the opening exchanges - only a tame free-kick from Sorin Frunza called Pepe Reina into action in the opening 25 minutes.

However, the 'Wolves of Baragan' were defending the edge of the box tenaciously, forcing Liverpool to try their luck from range - with Javier Mascherano seeing a seemingly goal bound effort deflected behind while Ngog could only watch on as his improvised strike was ricocheted to safety for the visitors.

It ensured that despite the Reds' dominance of possession, Roni Levy's outfit went into the half-time break with the scoreline still goalless.

The second half began with the home side on the front foot again and Gerrard headed a Carragher cross wide of the upright.

A cutting edge was still proving elusive for Liverpool, though it took a fine diving save from Arlauskis to thwart Aurelio's long-range strike just after the hour.

Benitez opted to introduce Ryan Babel to the action in an attempt to inject some drive into his side's attacking play - and the Dutch winger made a promising start with two energetic runs that lifted the tempo.

Unirea still continued to frustrate as the small pocket of travelling fans in the lower Anfield Road end became more vocal as time ticked away.

They were almost silenced on 70 minutes when Martin Skrtel powered a bullet header over the bar from Aurelio's inviting corner prior to Ngog flashing an aerial effort of his own wide of the post.

Liverpool went closer still soon after as Gerrard's cushioned effort was parried away by Arlauskis after being teed up by Ngog before the Frenchman hooked the loose ball over the bar from six yards.

However, Pacheco was next to be summoned from the bench by Benitez, and the Spain starlet played a key role in helping the Reds finally break the deadlock with 10 minutes remaining.

Babel's inswinging cross from the left was expertly nodded back across goal by Pacheco, leaving Ngog with the relatively simply task of heading over the line from point blank range.

Gerrard was millimetres away from extending Liverpool's lead when the skipper fashioned a shooting chance on the edge of the box with some excellent control.

But the Reds were forced to settle for a solitary goal that ensures Benitez's charges will travel to Bucharest next week in the driving seat for a place in the next round.