Fenerbahçe break down dogged Steaua

Kazım Kazım's goal gave Fenerbahçe SK a hard-earned victory at FC Steaua Bucureşti that takes them top of UEFA Europa League Group H.

Run ended
Fenerbahçe were dominant from the off but it took 59 minutes to beat superb home goalkeeper Robinson Zapata and end Steaua's run of four European home clean sheets this season. Having drawn both their previous group games 0-0 Steaua are now bottom of the section, four points behind new leaders Fenerbahçe, and need a good result in Turkey on 5 November.

Depleted sides
Both teams went into the game weakened by injury; with Fenerbahçe attackers Alex, Daniel Güiza and Deivid out, winger Kazım Kazım was deployed as lone striker. Zapata made a vital double save from the advancing Kazım Kazım and Mehmet Topuz before André Santos lashed the second follow-up off target.

Zapata heroics
Mehmet Topuz was again denied by the diving Zapata, who also performed heroics to keep out another Kazım Kazım strike; the rebound fell to André Santos, this time shooting over. Steaua only relieved the pressure in the dying minutes of the first half.

Kapetanos denied
The home side started the second period strongly and Kapetanos was sent clear, only for Gökhan Gönül to produce a saving tackle. Zapata was soon back in action, a fingertip save turning a Kazım Kazım effort round the post, while at the other end Volkan Demirel kept out Kapetanos's half-volley.

Breakthrough
A Fenerbahçe breakthrough still seemed inevitable, and it came when Roberto Carlos played in an incisive low centre that Kazım Kazım was able to roll in. Kapetanos remained Steaua's main threat and glanced a header on to the crossbar, and though Zapata kept Steaua in it with a diving stop from Mehmet Topuz, they never again threatened to equalise.