Steaua Bucharest 1 Chelsea 0 match report: Rafael Benitez faces failure on another front after Ryan Bertrand lapse in the Europa League

Steaua Bucharest 1 Chelsea 0

National Arena

No matter what Rafael Benitez tries as Chelsea’s interim first-team manager, it always seem to backfire. Just a couple of days after the club’s chief executive, Ron Gourlay, warned him that finishing in the Premier League top four was a must, Benitez is on the verge of failing in another cup competition.

Raul Rosescu’s penalty was enough to give Steaua the advantage in the first leg of this last 16 Europa League tie last night and, unfortunately for Benitez, he had a hand in its outcome.

He actually picked a stronger team than many expected, especially with an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford just three days away. However it was typical that one of the squad players he chose to play, Ryan Bertrand, ended up gifting Steaua the opening goal.

The home side had barely posed any threat when Iasmin Latovlevici crossed deep and Rusescu fell under the challenge of Bertrand, who was playing instead of Ashley Cole.

It appeared a harsh decision by referee Sergei Karasev Bertrand, but then the young English left-back had looked uncomfortable throughout playing next to David Luiz rather than John Terry. The latter started but was, unusually, fielded to the right of Luiz.

Rusescu, Steaua’s leading scorer this season, converted the spot-kick emphatically to spark delirious celebrations and uncomfortably loud dance music on the PA system. Afterwards, Benitez complained  that the decision  had been unjust and tried to remain upbeat about Chelsea’s chances of progressing. He said: “The mood in the dressing room is as you would expect after a defeat. We are disappointed, but we still have the belief we can do it at home.”

A clearly rattled Benitez can still point to one Spaniard having a more miserable time as Fernando Torres’ woes continued. He had been informed that his deflected effort at Middlesbrough last week had been taken away by the dubious goals panel and awarded to Ramires instead. So his record reverted to a miserable one goal in 17. The 28-year-old was soon back in the spotlight for the wrong reasons as just after  he tripped to send the ball out of play, a green laser pen was aimed at him from the stands.

It was fitting that Chelsea were playing in a city like Bucharest, a confused mix of the old and the new, just like Benitez’s squad. Romania’s capital is renowned for potholes galore, making any travel rather bumpy. One could say the same applies to Chelsea’s season and the club’s fans are so disenchanted they decided to give this one a miss. Around 300 to 400 fans looked all the more lost in the impressive National Arena, opened in 2011 and boasting a capacity of more than 55,000.

Still few should blame them, especially when seeing the team play as ineffectively as this, albeit against a side full of confidence owing to their 12-point lead in Romania’s top flight.

Yossi Benayoun should have equalised when put through by Eden Hazard, but shot tamely for Ciprian Tatarusanu to tip it wide. Tatarusanu also blocked a half-volley from Torres and a late effort from Marko Marin, but Chelsea were poor as an attacking force.

They have a lot of improving to do at Stamford Bridge if they are to avoid the undistinguished record of being knocked out prematurely of a second European competition this term.

Still one English team will be happy with what they saw, as Manchester United lie in wait to make amends for their own European heartbreak.

“It’s another competition and atmosphere,” Benitez said. “Sunday is another challenge for us.” It is a challenge that Chelsea look very unlikely to overcome.

Booked: Steaua Bucharest Mihai Pintilii. Chelsea Bertrand, Mikel.

Man of the match Rusescu.

Match rating 5/10. 

Possession: Steaua Bucharest 55%. Chelsea 45%.

Attempts on target: Steaua Bucharest 2. Chelsea 3. Referee S Karasev (Moscow). 

Attendance 45,000.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

Brits on fire in the wet at Le Mans!

Wow - what a weekend for British Motorcycle racing!

by Luke Wilkins

iBet: Bale and Rooney transfer specials

The dust is barely settling on the Premier League season and the bookies are looking to persuade us ...

by Gareth Purnell

A changing of the guards in English football: From Sir Alex Ferguson to Jose Mourinho

The guard has changed at Old Trafford for the first time in 26 years. Meanwhile, down the road, the ...

by The Sports Lawyer

       
Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

A meeting of global power brokers in a Hertfordshire hotel is exciting conspiracy theorists, but what are they really about?
'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system': Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console

'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system'

Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console
Plenty of Fish dating site founder pulls 'Intimate Encounters' option to ward off sleazy men

Plenty of sleaze

Dating website pulls intimate 'hook-up' section to curb harassment
Inferno author Dan Brown 'honoured' to be invited to join the Freemasons

The Freemasons’ Code

Dan Brown reveals the message that told him door to the lodge is open
Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Nick Buckles survived the Olympics débâcle and a £5bn bid fiasco but a profit warning finally triggered his downfall
How to say ‘I’m a sellout’: Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar

How to say ‘I’m a sellout’

Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar
Why clubs are keen to take a stand

Why clubs are keen to take a stand

There's a real desire around the grounds for safe standing. But will the authorities listen?
In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

Disillusion with a siege mentality and negative playing style made change inevitable
James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

British driver was fascinating man whose epic duel with Niki Lauda in 1976 was typical of an era of glamour and glory – but also the ever-present threat of death
Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

Lions' cub, 20, joins long line of players from Scottish borders club Hawick given opportunity to make his mark at highest level
Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch

Steve Bunce on Boxing

Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch against Mikel Kessler
'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
Have US shock jocks gone too far?

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
Heavenly Bodies

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell