A second-half Viorel Moldovan goal gave Rapid Bucharest a 1-1 draw against city rivals Steaua in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals on Thursday. Steaua, the away side for this first-leg, had taken an early lead through Banel Nicolita as both teams compete to reach the semi-finals.
Honours even after the first-leg, as passion rather got in the way of technique as both teams struggled to produce their best on a wet night in Bucharest.
In truth, Steaua started off much the better team, and were good value for the opening goal after a bright start.
Daniel Oprita sped down the right with great pace and showed the presence of mind to look up and pick out the run of Nicolita at the far post.
The Romanian then steadied himself before coolly slotting the ball home beyond the reach of Danut Coman in the Rapid goal.
Rapid then continued to look second best as the half continued, struggling to cope at the back and producing no cutting edge up front.
Indeed, the visitors should have gone 2-0 up near half-time as Nicolae Dica timed a run superbly to a ball that somehow bypassed the Rapid rearguard but completely missed his kick from less than ten metres with the goal gaping.
And how Steaua would rue that missed chance.
GOALKEEPING HOWLER
In the early minutes of the second-half, Emil Dica smashed a low shot across goal that Carlos in the Steaua goal fumbled into the path of Moldovan who easily poked home to level the scores.
At this level of the game, simple handling errors like that are unforgivable.
That goal seemed to really knock the stuffing out of Steaua, and they were doomed to spend the entire second period on the back foot.
However, Rapid were never really good enough to take advantage of their opponent's bad day, despite the best efforts of Emanoil Badoi down the Rapid right, and the game fizzled out as a spectacle long before the referee blew the final whistle.
Things are now delicately balanced with the second leg to come next week. But, if Steaua can reproduce their football from the first-half, they should prove too strong for their city rivals in front of their own fans.
