Reds seal passage with draw

Jose Reina
12 April 2012

Liverpool secured top spot in Group K of the Europa League with a 1-1 draw against Steaua Bucharest in Romania, but required a helping hand from their rivals after a howler from goalkeeper Jose Reina.

Milan Jovanovic's first-half header was cancelled out when the Reds captain on the night allowed Eder Bonfim's effort to escape his grasp and creep over the line.

A point would have been enough to put Roy Hodgson's side through but Utrecht's 3-3 draw with Napoli ensured they could not be caught at the top of the table with a match still to play.

Steaua should have taken an early lead but Eric Bicfalvi headed over left-back Iasmin Latovlevici's cross from eight yards. It proved to be a costly miss as Liverpool took the lead with their first chance in the 19th minute.

Serbia international Jovanovic worked the ball out to Ryan Babel on the right. When the Dutchman crossed to the far post the Jovanovic had continued his run and headed home.

Babel almost had a hand in creating a second goal but his pass which picked out Joe Cole on the penalty spot was miscontrolled and Dani Pacheco eventually bundled a shot wide from the edge of the area.

Liverpool had a lucky escape in the dying seconds of the first half when in-form striker Bogdan Stancu, scorer of 12 goals in 17 league appearances, somehow stabbed wide from eight yards when it seemed easier to score.

Early in the second half Reina saved low from Geraldo Alves' header and tipped Stancu's shot, which looped up off Fabio Aurelio, over the crossbar. The Steaua striker played a significant part without actually touching the ball in the home side's 61st-minute equaliser.

Stancu -played onside by Danny Wilson - was positioned in front of Reina when Bonfim launched his header but the goalkeeper, distracted by his opponent's presence, allowed the ball to squirm out of his grasp, through his legs and over the line.

Sotirios Kyrgiakos powered a header at the crossbar and over from Aurelio's corner as the visitors responded, but ultimately Liverpool were happy to hang on for a third point in as many Group K away matches.

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