Vlad Chiricheş' stunning second-half strike inspired Steaua Bucureşti to dump Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam out in a 4-2 Europa League penalty shootout in Bucureşti.
Steaua, who lost 0-2 in the first tie, did not threaten in the opening half-hour but the game had burst into life when Iasmin Latovlevici scored after 38 minutes.
And 14 minutes from time, Chiricheş made the National Stadium erupt when he struck a stunner to make it 2-0.
A long-throw in attempt was headed away by an Ajax defender and the ball fell to Chiricheş 25 yards from goal.
He did not think twice as he made perfect contact with the ball, rifling a venomous half-volley in off the underside of the bar to force extra time.
It was no less than the Romanian side deserved and following a goalless extra-time period, Latovlevici netted the winning penalty after Lasse Schöne and Niklas Moisander had missed for Ajax.
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| Steaua Bucureşti player Vlad Chiricheş celebrates after scoring a goal against Ajax Photo: Reuters |
Steaua, who lost 0-2 in the first tie, did not threaten in the opening half-hour but the game had burst into life when Iasmin Latovlevici scored after 38 minutes.
And 14 minutes from time, Chiricheş made the National Stadium erupt when he struck a stunner to make it 2-0.
A long-throw in attempt was headed away by an Ajax defender and the ball fell to Chiricheş 25 yards from goal.
He did not think twice as he made perfect contact with the ball, rifling a venomous half-volley in off the underside of the bar to force extra time.
It was no less than the Romanian side deserved and following a goalless extra-time period, Latovlevici netted the winning penalty after Lasse Schöne and Niklas Moisander had missed for Ajax.
