Maccabi Haifa took a huge step towards qualifying from Europa League Group J as they thrashed a Steaua Bucharest side who finished with nine men 5-0.

An early double from Weam Amasha had Maccabi in control inside the opening 20 minutes and things got worse for Steaua with Eric Bicfalvi dismissed in the 36th minute as he conceded a penalty from which Yaniv Katan made it 3-0.

Maccabi even managed to miss a penalty, in the 65th minute, after Valentin Iliev was sent off for a professional foul, but the goals continued to flow.

Taleb Tawatcha added a fourth in the 72nd minute and Idan Vered added another seven minutes later.

Maccabi needed only nine minutes to take the lead, with Amasha latching on to Katan's pass to fire into the net.

Steaua sought a response, but Leandro Tatu fired wide before Florin Costea's effort was saved by Bojan Saranov.

Orel Dgani headed wide for Maccabi in the 18th minute but the second goal was only seconds away.

And it arrived in some style, with Amasha firing a brilliant overhead kick into the net.

Steaua were desperately unlucky not to get one back two minutes later when Tatu's header struck the post, but instead it was Maccabi who continued to move further ahead.

Amasha blazed over the bar as he eyed a first-half hat-trick, before the third goal arrived in the 37th minute.

Bicfalvi hailed down Amasha to see red, and Katan placed his penalty into the centre of the net.

Florin Costea had a chance to get a goal back for Steaua in the last minute of the half but missed the target from the edge of the area.

It was a slow start to the second half with the hosts happy to sit on their lead and thwart any attempt from Steaua to get back into it.

Any slim hopes the visitors had of doing just that all but ended in the 64th minute when Valentin Iliev became the second player to see red, although Katan's powerful penalty struck the crossbar.

They made up for it in the 72nd minute as Idan Vered's corner found Tawatcha who blasted home from close range.

And the roles were then reversed as Tawatcha crossed for Vered to fire home a powerful shot.