Defensive errors prove costly

Champions League 2nd qualifying rd/Steaua Bucharest 4 Shelbourne 1: Shelbourne were left to rue three calamitous defensive errors as they crashed out of the Champions League last night at the hands of Steaua Bucharest in the Ghencea Stadium.

Having defended exceptionally well at home in the first leg to earn a 0-0 draw, Shelbourne were banking on a repeat performance in Bucharest last night.

But the fifth minute dismissal of Dave Rogers, along with Romanian Nicolae Dica, forced a reshuffle and three terrible errors gifted three goals to Steaua by the 62nd minute before the Romanians completed their victory with an injury-time penalty.

It was disappointing for Shelbourne, who, if they defended as well as they did in Dublin, may well have gone through courtesy of Jason Byrne's excellent 39th header.

Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon conceded that the better team won: "We gave away some sloppy goals but the better team went through - no doubt about it.

"The third goal was disappointing to see, it was a killer goal for us."

Fenlon also hit out at the racists who verbally abused Curtis Fleming and Joseph Ndo late on in the game saying: "The one disappointing thing is that we have two black players on the field and they got abuse. It was unacceptable."

Fenlon was also disappointed with the sending off of Rogers believing that a yellow card would have been sufficient while his counterpart Oleg Protasov admitted that the two dismissals favoured his team.

"Both teams had only 10 each, but it is more difficult for the team that wants to defend when there is more gaps and more spaces," he said.

It was clear that Steaua were out to intimidate Shelbourne from early on with little scuffles continually breaking out all over the pitch until eventually the referee was forced to act in the fifth minute. Dica threw a punch at Rogers with the defender retaliating and both were promptly sent off, though it was a couple of minutes before the game could start again with missiles being thrown onto the pitch while the two players clashed again on their way down the tunnel.

Considering that Shelbourne were so intent on defending, it was them who should have taken the lead in the 12th minute.

After winning what would be their only corner of the game, David Crawley floated the ball in for Richie Baker whose powerful header was parried by Vasili Khamutouski before Mirel Radoi amazingly hammered the ball against the post when trying to clear.

But while Steaua were incredibly fortunate to escape at the other end, Shelbourne were punished in the 18th minute when Banel Nicolita scored the opening goal.

With a similar build-up to Nicolita's chance in the first leg, Mihai Nesu lofted a high pass into the box which Jamie Harris allowed to drift over his head while David Crawley failed to track the run of Nicolita who took the ball on his chest before deftly flicking over Delaney.

Eight minutes later, another defensive error by Shelbourne once again gifted Steaua a goal when Nesu's low cross somehow evaded Harris and Delaney.

Crawley, behind them, sensed the danger but failed to properly clear with the ball dropping to Victoras Iacob six yards out who side-footed the ball home.

Somehow Shelbourne hung on and then launched a comeback with six minutes remaining in the first half when Crawley's deep cross was headed back across goal by Baker for Jason Byrne to head past Khamutouski.

Needing just one more goal, Shelbourne were confident but Steaua were not keen on running down the clock with such a slim lead and lifted the tempo forcing Shelbourne to defend in depth.

Yet again errors crept in with defenders being caught in possession or losing their markers but somehow the score remained 2-1 with a Nesu shot that Delaney saved with his legs their only real opportunity that the Romanians created.

But once again, their luck ran out and they only had themselves to blame in the 62nd minute when Delaney raced out of his box but failed to clear a long ball allowing Laurentiu Dinita to slot into an empty net.

To Shelbourne's credit they battled on gamely with substitutes Ndo and the impressive Wes Hoolahan giving Steaua plenty of problems.

Steaua then had Dinita sent off for diving and showing dissent in injury time but it was Steaua who were celebrating at the final whistle after Daniel Oprita had made it 4-1 from the penalty spot in injury time after Heary had handled.

STEAUA BUCHAREST: Khomutovsky, Radoi, Dica, Bostina (Oprita 75 mins), Nesu, Nicolita (Paraschiv 90 mins), Baciu, Iacob (Dinita 46 mins), Ogararu, Ghionea, Lovin. Subs not used: Toma, Goian, Balan, Cristea. Sent off: Dica (5 mins), Dinita (90 mins). Goals: Nicolita 20, Iacob 26, Dinita 62, Oprita 90 pen.

SHELBOURNE: Delaney, Heary, Crawley, Rogers, Harris, Cahill, Stuart Byrne, Crowe, Jason Byrne, Baker, Moore (Hoolahan 66 mins). Subs not used: Williams, Fitzpatrick, Fleming, Ryan, Ndo, O'Neill. Sent off: Rogers (5). Booked: Moore. Goal: Jason Byrne 39.

Referee: C Colombo (France).