Europa League

Nikolic on target in Steaua win

Stefan Nikolic earned Steaua Bucharest their first win in Group E as they beat FC Copenhagen 1-0 in the Europa League tie in Bucharest.

The substitute striker headed the Romanian side ahead in the 83rd minute in a game lacking any other real clear-cut chances to extend his side's unbeaten run in group stage home games to eight - four wins and four draws.

Steaua had the first chance of the match when Cristian Tanase forced a comfortable save from Copenhagen goalkeeper Johan Wiland in the eighth minute.

It turned out to be a rare moment of attacking football in the first half, with the next best attempt on the half-hour mark when Tanase fired wide from Alexandru Bourceanu's inswinging corner.

Bourceanu forced a clearance from Ragnar Sigurdsson five minutes before the break in an evenly matched half with few real signs of flair.

After the break, both sides upped the ante with each goalkeeper tested several times.

First Copenhagen keeper Wiland caught Nikolic's shot before his opposite number Ciprian Tatarusanu was called into action moments later, punching Pierre Bengtsson's inswinging corner to safety.

Steaua's Alexandru Chipciu's 20-yard shot was then comfortably saved by Wiland before Copenhagen striker Andreas Cornelius saw Tatarusanu catch his effort from the edge of the 18-yard box.

However, it fell to Nikolic, who was introduced from the bench at half-time, to make the breakthrough with a header from the middle of the area as the clock ticked down.