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Two second-half goals from Miroslav Klose and another from Luca Toni ensured FC Bayern München marched triumphantly into the UEFA Champions League knockout stages with an emphatic victory against FC Steaua București.
Though Olympique Lyonnais' defeat of ACF Fiorentina in the night's other Group F fixture meant Bayern would have progressed regardless of their result, the German champions never looked as if they would need a helping hand. After a frustrating first half, Klose finally broke the deadlock three minutes before the hour and Toni swiftly dived to head in another, Klose rounding off an impressive display with a third goal 19 minutes from time to continue the home team's unbeaten run in this season's competition and send them into the last 16 for a fifth successive UEFA Champions League campaign.
With Jürgen Klinsmann prowling the technical area from kick-off, there was a clear sense of Bayern's determination to ensure they would decide their own destiny. Robinson Zapata was called upon to block Toni's point-blank effort three minutes in, while the Italian was unlucky to see a clean strike from Franck Ribéry's low cross skid just wide six minutes later. The German titleholders' fluidity - borne of the confidence built by an eleven-game unbeaten run - was stretching Steaua, though Dayro Moreno did conjure a long-range shot that sped into the midriff of Bayern goalkeeper Michael Rensing.
Released by Bănel Nicoliță down the right, the Colombian midfielder then fed Steaua captain Mirel Rădoi, whose acrobatic volley missed the target. That scare sparked an instant Bayern riposte, Toni's header from a Ribéry cross being parried by the alert Zapata and a lunging Klose turning the rebound over. Nicoliță's busy presence on the right gave Bayern cause for concern though, and the Romanian international picked out Dorin Goian with a cross, but the defender failed to get sufficient power on his shot.
Slotting into central defence in place of the injured Martín Demichelis, Daniel Van Buyten almost presented Steaua with an opening when a ball ricocheted off his knee, allowing Nicoliță to send in a dangerous cross that Lucio hacked clear. Bayern, though, continued to threaten at the other end, and two goals in four minutes took the game away from Steaua. Zé Roberto burst to the left-hand byline, and though his centre was miscued by Toni, Massimo Oddo picked up the loose ball on the opposite flank, crossing for Ribéry to head goalwards and Klose swooped to score. The Germany striker then turned provider, cleverly flicking Lucio's raking ball towards Toni, who collided with Zapata as he bravely dived to head in.
With Steaua pushing up looking for a goal to bring them back into the contest, Klose then delivered the finishing touch. Ribéry sped down the right, and with the visitors' defence spread, found Klose in space. A low finish left Zapata helpless and means Steaua must now beat Fiorentina in their final fixture to claim third in the section, while Bayern travel to Lyon on Matchday 6 to determine who wins the section. [uefa.com] |
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