Schwarzer keeps Boro in contention
Steaua Bucharest 1 Middlesbrough 0
Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer turned in a heroic performance in Romania to deny Steaua Bucharest a healthy UEFA Cup semi-final advantage.
The Australian was beaten in the 30th minute by Nicolae Dica’s clinical finish, but pulled off brilliant second-half stops to prevent defender Dorin Goian and Dica increasing their side’s lead.
Boro will head back to the Riverside Stadium next Thursday night knowing their fate lies in their own hands, but well aware that Cosmin Olaroiu’s side will pose a major threat despite the absence of Sorin Paraschiv and dangerman Banel Nicolita through suspension.
Boro mustered little as an attacking force at the Lia Manoliu stadium - Steaua’s temporary home, and a venue at which they had failed to score before tonight – and had to defend with a blend of resilience and good fortune to get through having conceded only once.
But with England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and former striker Fabrizio Ravanelli among the crowd, they managed to cling on to give themselves a glorious opportunity of reaching next month’s final in Eindhoven.
However, the 1986 European Cup winners will know they should have made their dominance tell, and while they too will feel they have every chance of progressing, they could yet be made to pay for missed chances.
Without Gareth Southgate, Mark Viduka, Gaizka Mendieta, Emanuel Pogatetz and Lee Cattermole through injury and Chris Riggott through suspension, Boro’s resources were stretched to the full.
Manager Steve McClaren, however, was confident the 11 men he sent out could return to Teesside with their chances of making the final intact.
He knew Steaua would provide a real test of his side’s European credentials, and he was not to be disappointed as the Romanians passed the ball confidently and patiently with the visitors sitting deep and Boro content to try to hit them on the counter-attack.
It is a plan which has served the Teessiders well during the competition to date, and although they were forced to soak up pressure, they rarely looked in any danger with Dica’s hooked 10th-minute effort the only moment of real concern early on.
But that all changed on the half-hour when Steaua forced their way in front with a well-taken goal.
Mirel Radoi collected George Ogararu's throw-in and played the ball in to Dica's feet, and the striker turned smartly to blast a right-foot shot high into the top corner.
Dica was booked for his celebrations, and midfielder Sorin Paraschiv followed him three minutes later for a foul on Franck Queudrue which will cost him his place in the second leg.
Full-back Petre Marin fired wide from distance with 10 minutes of the half remaining, and the Teessiders had two chances to level before the break.
Yakubu’s downward header off George Boateng’s cross was tipped onto the bar by Carlos Alberto and James Morrison was unable to scramble the ball home from the resulting corner, with the goalkeeper saving the home side again.
Boro were handed an opportunity early in the second half when Queudrue’s long ball set Stewart Downing away down the left, although the visitors were unable to make anything of the throw-in he forced.
Schwarzer did well to cut out a Daniel Oprita effort, before the Australian pulled off a fine reaction save to keep out Goian’s effort from Gabriel Bostina’s corner.
Boro belatedly started to string a series of passes together as the half wore on, but there was little penetration as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Yakubu were effectively marked.
They should really have been 2-0 down after 61 minutes when Stuart Parnaby made a mess of clearing a right-wing cross and the ball fell to Dica – but Schwarzer got down brilliantly to keep out the shot.
Hasselbaink squandered possession deep inside his own half five minutes later, but although Paraschiv found Oprita, he dragged his shot wide.
McClaren made a double change with 20 minutes remaining when he withdrew Yakubu and Morrison and sent on the hero of the last round, Massimo Maccarone, and experienced midfielder Ray Parlour.
Schwarzer was booked for time-wasting with 15 minutes remaining with Steaua becoming increasingly frustrated at their failure to make the pressure tell.
But they should have scored again in the 81st minute when Marin and Dica played a one-two for the defender to run in on goal, but poke his left-foot shot wide.
Maccarone caused Alberto Carlos problems with a dipping 86th-minute shot. Although the goalkeeper spilled his initial effort, he recovered before Hasselbaink could pounce.
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