Narrow defeat in Bucharest

04/10 2012 23:21

FC Copenhagen fell short of a hard-earned point in Bucharest as a single Steaua goal was enough to earn the Romanians a 1-0 victory in the UEFA Europa League.

by Joe Short

Head coach Ariel Jacobs selected the 4-4-1-1 formation he has used throughout European competition this season, with Nicolai Jørgensen playing in the hole in front of Andreas Cornelius up top. Ragnar Gislason was handed a role on the right wing while Thomas Delaney took up the opposite flank.

A raucous 50,000-strong crowd welcomed the teams onto the pitch and in the opening throes Copenhagen were booed and jeered every time they retained possession. Christian Tanase was the first to get a shot on target for Steaua, drilling a low effort into Johan Wiland’s arms on eight minutes.

Copenhagen took their time to get into the game and controlled most of the play across their back line and midfield, but they were one stray pass away from a golden opportunity on 20 minutes when Cornelius battled for the ball and played square to Jørgensen in the Steaua box. Jørgensen, rather than shoot, passed left to the oncoming Delany but the lay off was far too heavy and the chance died as quickly as it had materialised.

Stalemate continues

The pace slowed after Delaney’s half chance as Steaua stiffened up their midfield. Neither side seriously troubled respective goalkeepers although Bucharest did have a couple of breaks down the their left flank that had to be stifled out. Indeed, only determined tracking back from Gislason prevented Adrian Popa from a free run on goal as the half drew to a close.

Steaua made two substitutions at half time while Jacobs chose to keep the same system. The changes brought a new pace to the game and both sides came out fighting in the second half; striker Stefan Nikolic created the first effort of the half, glancing a cross into Wiland’s hands from 14 yards out.

On 59 minutes Copenhagen eked out their best chance of the game when Thomas Kristensen burst his way to the right byline and drilled a low ball across goal. Jørgensen waited for the ball to fall but before he could convert Gabriel Matei cut across to clear away a certain goal. Moments later and it was Wiland’s turn to avert danger, getting down low to block Alexandru Chipciu’s low effort.

Steaua benefit from lady luck

Two minutes after the save and Copenhagen should have taken the lead when Delaney headed across the box to Jørgensen who, in acres of space, nodded his effort wide of goal from just six yards out. Steaua started to push further up the field and on 70 minutes almost left themselves open when Cornelius broke down the left flank only to see his low effort comfortably saved by Ciprian Tatarusanu.

With just eight minutes to go Steaua took the lead in the cruellest of circumstances. Tanase cut inside off the left wing and fired a shot towards goal and Kris Stadsgaard held firm to block the effort. However, the ball rebounded straight out and hit Nikolic in the face before looping into the net.

Jacobs quickly brought César Santin on for Pierre Bengtsson in order to find an equaliser and seconds later the Brazilian almost got on the end of a Cornelius header but the ball fell wide. On 87 minutes Jørgensen saw a speculative effort soar high over the crossbar and despite further forward moves FCK just couldn’t find that illusive goal.

Despite the defeat Copenhagen lie in a comfortable second place in Group E of the Europa League and will face Stuttgart away in a fortnight’s time.

STEAUA BUCHAREST: 1 FC COPENHAGEN: 0

Steaua Bucharest: Tatarusanu, Matei, Gardos, Chiriches, Pintilii, Tanase, Prepelita, Bourceanu (C), Popa, Adi Sobrinho.

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen (C), Stadsgaard, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Gislason, Claudemir, Kristensen, Delaney, Jørgensen, Cornelius.

Goals: Nikolic, Steaua Bucharest (82’).

Referee: Antonio Damato (ITA).