Steaua Bucuresti through to UEFA last 32 after 3-1 thriller

Romania football club Steaua Bucuresti are through to the last 32 in UEFA cup after an action packed 3-1 victory in Bucharest's National Stadium. The home side qualified as runners-up in Group J to FC Schalke, whose three-nil victory over Israeli side Maccabi Haifa FC opened up the group's second spot.

Steaua and Cypriot side AEK Larnaca had five points apiece ahead of their clash in Romania's capital and only victory would give either team a chance of leap frogging Maccabi to reach the final stages of the competition. Bucharest's National Stadium resounded with the home fans' roars of “Forta Steaua” and fevered second half action on the pitch saw chances aplenty in the night's four goal thriller. The first 45 minutes were a somewhat quiet, nervy affair and Larnaca had one of the best chances of the first half. After the break things heated up, Steaua opened the scoring after Rusescu converted the penalty given after Nikolić was felled by Larnaca's Ander Murillo. Just six minutes later the visitors equalized when Pintado's header beat Steaua's goalie. The home team continued to push, and created more chances until Nikolić headed home a corner that put Steaua back on top. A second goal from Nikolić five minutes from the whistle put the match securely out of Larnaca's reach and sealed the deal for Steaua's final 32 place in the UEFA cup. For the video summary of all the goals you can access the official UEFA site. Reporting by Alex Camburu, alex.camburu@romania-insider.com Editing by Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com (photo source: National Arena)