Rubin Kazan 0-1 Olympiakos

Page last updated at 04:55 GMT, Wednesday, February 15, 2012 - 09:55 EST

Northern Irish goalkeeper Roy Carroll saved a penalty on his first touch after coming on as a substitute as 10-man Olympiakos Piraeus prevailed 1-0 at Russia's Rubin Kazan in the Europa League round of 32 on Tuesday.

Spanish striker Fuster slammed the ball into the roof of the net after Rubin failed to clear a corner on 71 minutes. Seconds after the restart Rubin earned a penalty when goalkeeper Balasz Megyeri brought down Gokdeniz Karadeniz and was sent off.

Both sides struggled to create goalscoring chances before the break, with neither goalkeeper being called into any telling action.

Olympiakos goalkeeper Balazs Megyeri was sent off a minute later for bringing down Gokdeniz Karadeniz. Carroll came on as a substitute to save the ensuing penalty kick from Israel midfielder Bebras Natcho as the Greek champions hung on to victory.

Carroll said he had not done his homework on Rubin's playmaker Natcho.

"The coach told me when I was coming on that he normally goes to the keeper's left. I decided to go early, and luckily for me, I saved it."

The 34-year-old Northern Irish goalkeeper, who has also played for Wigan Athletic, West Ham United, Rangers, Derby County and Odense BK in Denmark, said he was "happy for his fans" that his first touch in an Olympiakos shirt proved so valuable.

"It's my chance, I took it for the fans. I wasn't nervous."

Olympiakos host the second leg next week Thursday.