Lille OSC 1 : 1 Krasnodar FK - Kjaer spares Lille's blushes

French side Lille were held to a 1-1 home draw by Russian debutants Krasnodar in their Europa League Group H opener on Thursday evening.

Krasnodar, who came through from the second qualifying round and beat Real Sociedad in the play-offs, took a shock lead through a scrappy goal from Ricardo Laborde.

Eventually, the home side's pressure told just after the hour when Danish defender Simon Kjaer netted a fine free-kick.

Ari twice went close for Krasnodar, but both sides had to settle for a share of the points.

After Lille's Belgian forward Divock Origi had dragged his shot wide from 12 yards, Krasnodar - who bagged nine goals in their first two European away games earlier this season - went ahead on 35 minutes.

A cross from defender Artur Jedrzejczyk was deflected to Odil Ahmedov, whose clever back-heel found Laborde, whose shot cannoned off Florent Balmont and past Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

Just before the break, Enyeama saved from Andreas Granqvist as the Swedish defender looked to double the visitors' advantage before Laborde shot wide in stoppage time.

Rene Girard's side regrouped at the break and offered a threat in the second half as Marcos Lopes forced a good stop from Krasnodar goalkeeper Andrei Dykan.

Eventually, the hosts' persistence was rewarded on 61 minutes when Kjaer despatched a well-taken 25-yard free-kick into the top-left corner after Balmont had been fouled by Yuri Gazinski.

Lille needed another decent stop from Enyeama, denying Ari, to stay level before Wanderson curled an effort wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Brazilian forward Ari headed wide from close range as both sides were left frustrated in their search for a winner during the closing stages.