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UEFA Cup - Semifinals


Ziaka

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Steaua 1 - 0 Middlesbrough (30' Dica)

Nicolae Dica's sumptuous strike gave FC Steaua Bucuresti a precarious 1-0 first-leg advantage in their UEFA Cup semi-final tie against Middlesbrough FC in the Romanian capital, but Cosmin Olaroiu's team could live to regret a host of missed opportunities.

Crucial suspensions

Dica struck his fourth goal of the competition on the half-hour mark. With Middlesbrough penned inside their own half, Mirel Radoi fed the ball to the forward, who held off George Boateng, before swivelling and drilling a shot high into the roof of the net. It provided a deserved lead and Steaua could have won by more but spurned countless chances. However, with Sorin Paraschiv and Banel Nicolita now suspended for the return leg at the Riverside in seven days, the tie remains tight.

Striking absentees

Middlesbrough will hope to welcome back the injured Mark Viduka for that game, as the Australian's invention was sorely missed in Bucharest. Indeed, both teams struggled early on and it was not until the tenth minute that Steaua created the first real chance of the game after Matthew Bates could only half-clear. Daniel Oprita headed the ball back into the danger area where Dica hooked over the crossbar. Bates was only in the side as McClaren has been deprived of his first-choice central defensive pairing, with captain Gareth Southgate injured and Chris Riggott suspended, but he and Ugo Ehiogu soon settled.

Middlesbrough rally

Radoi and George Ogararu both tried their luck from distance, but neither forced a save from Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who had rather more to think about when the unmarked Dica headed a corner just past the upright. It marked the onset of a spell of sustained pressure from the home team, culminating in Dica's goal on the half-hour. Middlesbrough could have been level by the interval, however, as Boateng's cross was diverted onto the crossbar by a combination of Yakubu Ayegbeni and Ogararu, before Carlos Alberto Fernandes produced a fine stop to deny James Morrison from the resulting corner.

Second-half pressure

Schwarzer saved well from Dorin Goian eight minutes after the restart, and did even better to keep out Dica soon after when Stuart Parnaby's mistimed clearance presented the goalscorer an excellent chance to double the advantage. The Australian international almost presented Goian with another opening when he dropped a cross midway through the half, but the excellent Bates was on hand to hook clear. With minutes remaining, Petre Marin screwed wide with the goal at his mercy as Middlesbrough held on.

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Unfortunately the Steaua win is bad news for Greek soccer. If Steaua manages to tie and qualify to the final, Greece will lose the 8th place in the UEFA Coefficient rankings and in the European season 200708 we will only be able to field 4 teams in Europe.

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Unfortunately the Steaua win is bad news for Greek soccer. If Steaua manages to tie and qualify to the final, Greece will lose the 8th place in the UEFA Coefficient rankings and in the European season 200708 we will only be able to field 4 teams in Europe.

How many of those 4 would be in the CL?
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It's sad that the Romanians are doing better than us!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's hope Middlesbrough will win so we can save our 8th place and then hope that the Greek teams next year can do good so we can get some points and not have to worry about everyone else...

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It's sad that the Romanians are doing better than us!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's hope Middlesbrough will win so we can save our 8th place and then hope that the Greek teams next year can do good so we can get some points and not have to worry about everyone else...

The only way that could happen is if: Olympiakos have a bit of luck they can do well. AEK need to sort out their UEFA Cup campaign! And PAO's only hope would be to lose the 3rd preliminary round in the CL and make the UEFA cup. Only then would they be capable of a run. Xanthi and Iraklis could do well in the UEFA too, I think. If I had to predict, I'd guess that AEK will make the CL but won't win a game. Olympiakos will get to the last 16. In the UEFA PAO will go to the last 8. Everyone else out early!
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