Europa League: Liverpool v Steaua Bucharest full time report
Liverpool 4 Steaua Bucharest 1
Joe Cole scored his first Liverpool goal and David Ngog struck twice as a makeshift Reds side overcame a spirited Steaua Bucharest to go top of Europa League Group K.
Cole capitalised on a disastrous backpass from Iasmin Latovlevici to slot his side in front inside the first 30 seconds at Anfield, but Steaua hit back through skipper Cristian Tanase’s chip over goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
Ngog rolled in a penalty to put the Reds back in front shortly after half time, and substitute Lucas made it 3-1 with a stunning 25 yard shot just minutes after coming on.
French forward Ngog evaded two challenges to smash in his sixth goal of the season in stoppage time.
This was a good, confidence boosting win for Liverpool’s lesser lights, who embark upon their Europa League group campaign in high spirits.
Having named such an experimental line-up, Reds boss Roy Hodgson would have been hoping that his side could have made a strong start, and starts don’t get much stronger than a goal inside 27 seconds.
Latovlevici played an awful backpass towards goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu, which only succeeded in attracting an alert Cole, who raced onto the loose ball before clipping a precise finish beyond the goalkeeper and into the net via the post. It was the perfect opening.
The Reds looked in a confident mood, and Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Jay Spearing both struck efforts goalwards, before Steaua stung them at the other end.
Vice captain Bogdan Stancu’s precise through ball fed his skipper Tanase, and after easily outpacing Kyrgiakos, the midfielder elegantly lifted the ball over the advancing Reina to silence the Kop with a goal that came out of the blue.
The exciting Stancu’s influence was growing, and Pantelis Kapetanos soon brought an excellent save out of Reina – who wasn’t to know that the forward was offside, as Steaua began to worry the hosts with their quick passing and fast breakaways.
Steaua were on top, but Cole failed to seriously trouble Tatarusanu with an effort from distance, as did Ryan Babel and later Maxi Rodriguez, as Liverpool – anchored by their impressive young midfielder Spearing – tried to wrestle back control from their visitors at the end of the first half. It would be the second period before they’d go back in front though.
Ten minutes had elapsed in the second half when – from a Rodriguez corner – a flying Kyrgiakos was held by Gerardo Alves in the penalty area, and after the referee had pointed to the spot, up stepped Ngog to coolly convert.
It was just reward for Liverpool’s strong start to the second period, and home debutant Raul Meireles was soon stretching Tatarusanu from distance.
Liverpool were very much on top, but the longer the deficit stayed at just one goal, the more confident the visitors became, and Tanase should have done better when presented with an opportunity from the edge of the penalty area. He was soon showed how to do it.
Brazilian Lucas had only been on the field for two minutes when the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box, and the midfielder unleashed a stunning, venomous 25 yard effort that flew into the back of the Kop end net, all but sealing victory for the Reds.
There was still a gloss to be applied to the scoreline though, as, in stoppage time, Ngog navigated his way around several statuesque Steaua bodies to fire home his second of the night, and his team’s fourth.
A convincing win then, and a statement of intent from Liverpool’s squad players.
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