Football Flash

Steaua Bucharest, Romania’s vice-champions, will be playing this autumn in the Europa League groups. They were eliminated in the play-offs for the Champions League by English side Manchester City, after losing on Wednesday in an away game, 0-1. In the first leg, last Tuesday, the Brits had won in Bucharest 5-0.

Newsroom, 25.08.2016, 13:07

After the thrashing handed to Steaua by Manchester in Bucharest, for the return leg, in Manchester, both teams got on the pitch without several top players. Coach Laurentiu Reghecampf at first kept on the sidelines Nicolae Stanciu, Adrian Popa and Florin Nita. Citys coach, Pep Gardiola, also kept on the bench several of his star players, among them Argentinian Kun Aguero, who delivered no less than three goals in the first leg of the game, in Bucharest.

The game was rather balanced. City was on the attack more, but not with the same energy as in the first leg. Occasions did not abound, but showmanship was not lacking either. After half time, Steauas coach sent to the pitch Popa and Stanciu. The latter had the best opportunity of scoring, when he executed a penalty kick in the 70th minute, but City goalie Joe Hart defended.

Fabian Delph scored in the 56th minute for the host team, and the score was settled to the end of the game. On Friday, Steaua finds out what its adversaries will be in the Europa League groups. The first stage is on 15 September, and the last on 8 December. Before the European club competitions resume, games will be played next week counting towards the 2018 World Cup preliminaries. On 4 September, Romania hosts the game with Montenegro.

(Translated by Calin Cotoiu)