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Galatasaray booked their place in the last 32 of the Europa League with a convincing 3-0 away win against Dinamo Bucharest.
Goals from Harry Kewell, Shabani Nonda and Mehmet Topal made it a satisfying night for Frank Rijkaard's men, who made it three wins and a draw from four Group F matches.
Dinamo were the first to threaten, when they were awarded a 14th-minute free-kick following Servet Cetin's foul on Gabriel Tamas - however, Tamas' effort went wide.
Galatasaray then opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when former Liverpool and Leeds striker Kewell picked up possession 12 yards out and calmly beat Emilian Dolha with a low right-footed shot.
The Turkish side doubled their lead in the 25th minute, with Nonda heading in Arda Turan's cross from the right.
Dinamo were stunned and needed a goal before the break - but they were creating little against a resolute Gala defence.
The hosts finished the first half strongly though and after Dolha's 44th-minute free-kick had gone wide, goalkeeper Leo Franco was finally tested by a 25-yard shot from Marius Alexe.
Tamas had the first effort of the second half for the hosts, but he missed the target with another free-kick.
And the game was put beyond Dinamo's reach in emphatic fashion in the 54th minute when Topal gave Dolha no chance with a well-struck effort from 20 yards.
Cornel Talnar, brought in for his third spell as interim coach following Ion Marin's departure, made his first change on the hour when he brought on Gabriel Bostina for fellow midfielder Djakaridja Kone - and Adrian Cristea was replaced by Laurentiu Rus four minutes later.
However, the home side were unable to find the breakthrough they needed to give them slim hope of salvaging something from the contest.
Indeed, it was Galatasaray who continued to look more threatening with Dolha needing to pull off a smart save in the 65th minute to deny Turan.
Nonda, Mustafa Sarp and Gokhan Zan were replaced respectively in the closing stages by Tobias Linderoth, Elano and Fehmi Emre Gungor as the visitors closed out a climax of few chances with ease. |
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