Pat’s blown away in Bucharest

Steaua Bucharest 3 St. Patrick’s Athletic 0

St. Pat’s Europa League adventure would appear to be over as they were soundly beaten at an empty Ghencea Stadium in Bucharest.

In truth, it should have been much more as the skillful Romanian side, oblivious to the fact they had no support due to crowd trouble in an earlier round, missed a host of other chances in a one-sided game.

Having missed two gilt edged chances in the first half, the opening goal finally arrived on 56 minutes. Pantelis Kapetanos flicked the ball through for dangerman, Banel Nicolita, who beat Rogers with a powerful cross shot from 16 yards.

Polish international Pawel Golanski shot wide while Nicolita was also just off target before the second goal arrived nine minutes later.

Working a one-two with Alexandru Tudose, right winger Nicolita got to the end line to square the ball for substitute Bogdan Stancu to tap home.

The game was all but over ten minutes from time when Stancu scored his second goal of the night.

Kapetanos got past St. Pat’s skipper Jamie Harris to set-up Romeo Surdu to cross to give Stancu his sixth goal of the campaign with another close range finish.

St. Pat’s did demonstrate great endeavour and they did trouble Steaua on a couple of all too brief occasions.

Defender Dave Partridge fired wide in the first half; they were denied a good penalty shout for a foul on Stuart Byrne while Damian Lynch poked off target on 78 minutes.

Steaua Bucharest: Tatarusanu; Golanski (Tininho, 86 mins.), Tudose, Baciu, Marin; Nicolita, Onicas, Ionescu, Ochirosii (Stancu, 54 mins.); Surdu, Kapetanos (Grzelak, 81 mins.).

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Rogers; Gavin, Harris, Partridge, Stevens; Guy, Lynch (Cawley, 86 mins.), Byrne (Dempsey, 70 mins.), O’Connor; Fitzpatrick (Quigley, 61 mins.), O’Brien.

Referee: Alexei Nikolayev (Russia).