Utrecht - Steaua - 2010

Schut error denies Utrecht A late own goal from Alje Schut denied FC Utrecht their first Europa League Group K win against Steaua Bucharest as it ended in a 1-1 draw. The Dutch side had led through Edouard Duplan's breakthrough goal on the hour, both sides having had chances to add to the scoreline in an action-packed clash. However, the Romanians - like Utrecht, without a win in the tournament - nicked a point when Schut headed into his own net with 15 minutes left to play. After a quiet opening five minutes, Utrecht forged the first opportunity in the seventh. Michael Silberbauer centred the ball for the waiting Jacob Mulenga, whose close-range right-footed shot was sent wide of the right-hand post. The home side maintained the pressure and in the 12th minute a corner from Dries Mertens found Mulenga, who again blazed off target. Iasmin Latovlevici carved out a rare opportunity for Steaua Bucharest in the 19th minute as his left-footed shot was saved by Utrecht keeper Michel Vorm. Utrecht stepped things up soon after. Tim Cornelisse fired one goalwards from inside the area with his right foot but was frustrated as his effort smashed off the crossbar. A minute later Ricky van Wolfswinkel shot from the right side of the area with Cristian Tatarusanu making a smart save. The lively spell continued as Cristian Tanase's long-range strike went wide from 30 yards for Steaua before Duplan was off target at the other end. Silberbauer had another effort which went wide before the goalless half was brought to a close. The home side upped the pressure from the start of the second half. Gianluca Nijholt forced a save after latching onto Mertens' corner, then Van Wolfswinkel had a goal disallowed. Stanislav Angelov had an effort saved by Utrecht stopper Michel Vorm before the hosts took the lead in the 60th minute. Duplan was the man to find the breakthrough, firing home right-footed into the bottom-left corner to put the Dutch side ahead. Schut and Mertens both went close to doubling the lead and that profligacy was punished in the 75th minute when the Romanian outfit got themselves level. From a Steaua free-kick on the right, Schut got his head to the ball but only succeeded in directing it past Vorm to score the own goal. Neither side looked like clinching all three points as the game petered out rather than igniting.