Graz AK 2, Middlesbrough 2:Middlesbrough's UEFA Cup hopes survived a torrid test on a night when they should have been staring at the exit signs.
Steve McClaren's side - facing the Austrian champions - produced one of their worst 45-minute performances of the season during the opening half at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium last night.
However, the second half was a different story as they twice took the lead through Boudewijn Zenden and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - only for equalising goals from Mario Bazina and Roland Kollmann to set up a tense second leg at the Riverside next Thursday.
Boro's quest will be aided by the fact Kollmann - who set Austria on the road to a famous comeback in last September's World Cup qualifying draw against England - is suspended after being sent off late on for two bookable offences.
But from McClaren's point of view, the first 45 minutes were as bad as it gets, with the only saving grace being Graz's inept finishing. The home side should at least have had one goal to show for the four gilt-edged chances that came their way, but during the recent two-month winter break they clearly forgot how to find the target.
The alarm bells were ringing inside the opening minute when the defence were caught cold as the temperatures dipped below freezing in southern Austria. Franck Queudrue initially failed to prevent Imants Bleidelis, the former Southampton midfielder, from delivering a low, right-wing ball.
Despite a suspicion of handball from captain Gareth Southgate, who made a mess of cutting out the cross, Mathias Dollinger then drilled a 20-yard drive inches wide with Mark Schwarzer seemingly beaten. It was a warning to be heeded, but was recklessly ignored by the Boro players.
McClaren's defence were in No Man's Land again in the 20th minute when centre back Anton Ehmann was given freedom to run on to a Kollmann right-wing free-kick , only to power a header over the bar from six yards.
And still the opportunities came, with Schwarzer producing a superb reaction save in the 34th minute to keep out Ehmann's sidefoot shot to a low Emanuel Pogatetz corner, before an unmarked Bleidelis dragged his 18-yard shot wide with only Schwarzer to beat.
In contrast, Graz goalkeeper Andreas Schranz had a quiet opening 45 minutes, making just one save - an unneccessary one, as Michael Reiziger's drive was heading narrowly wide.
The interval produced the desired effect on Middlesbrough, and although McClaren chose to persist with a 4-5-1 formation which lacked punch and pace in the first half, the visitors were ahead six minutes after the restart.
Zenden picked the ball up in midfield and, as the opposition backed off, he surged forward and turned inside Ehmann before drilling a 20-yard right-foot shot inside Schranz's right-hand post.
But Graz were level in the 65th minute, with Kollmann playing in Bazina on the left after a Doriva mistake, with Schwarzer getting a hand to his low shot - only to see the ball trickle over the line.
Middlesbrough were back in front inside 90 seconds, with Hasselbaink playing the ball out wide to Downing. The return cross picked out the Dutchman for a flying header from four yards for his 12th goal of the season.
However, Graz hit back again with poor Croatian referee Edo Trivkovic awarding a free-kick for Samir Muratovic simply falling in front of Ray Parlour, with Kollmann curling home his 15th goal of the season.
LIEBHERR GAK: Schranz, Plassnegger, Ehmann, Tokic, Pogatetz, Bleidelis (Standfest 70), Muratovic, Aufhauser (Sick 90), Dollinger (Amerhauser 72), Bazina, Kollmann. Subs Not Used: Almer, Ramusch, Skoro, Majstorovic. Sent Off: Kollmann (80). Booked: Kollmann. Goals: Bazina 64, Kollmann 79.
MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Reiziger, Riggott, Southgate, Queudrue, Morrison, Parlour, Doriva, Zenden, Downing, Hasselbaink. Subs Not Used: Nash, Parnaby, Graham, Cooper, Davies, Nemeth, Job. Booked: Reiziger, Riggott, Southgate, Hasselbaink. Goals: Zenden 51, Hasselbaink 66.
Referee: Edo Trivkovic (Croatia).
