Steaua Bucuresti 6 : 0 Aalborg BK - Steaua hit AaB for six

Posted Friday, September 19, 2014 by PA

Claudiu Keseru scored a hat-trick as an astonishing second-half onslaught brought Steaua Bucharest a 6-0 win over AaB Aalborg in Europa League Group J.

After a goalless first half, the game quickly spiralled out of reach of the Danish side with Lucian Sanmartean's fluke opener followed by Raul Rusescu's penalty, which came when visiting keeper Nicolai Larsen was sent off.

Keseru turned the knife and then Rusescu made it six goals in 22 minutes as an AaB side who had actually had the better of the opening 45 minutes, only denied a lead by the brilliance of home keeper Giedrius Arlauskis, were ultimately blown away.

The visitors threatened first as Thomas Enevoldsen shot wide, while Steaua's response saw Iasmin Latovlevici draw an uncertain save from Larsen.

Arlauskis brilliantly denied Nikolaj Thomsen in the 12th minute, though he would not have been given a chance but for Thomsen's poor finish.

AaB lost Donny Gorter to injury, with Soren Frederiksen taking his place, but threatened again as Enevoldsen again shot wide when well placed.

Keseru curled a shot just wide of the far post - a hint of things to come - but the chances kept coming at the other end as Arlauskis blocked efforts from Frederiksen and Anders Jacobsen.

Lukas Szukala headed Sanmartean's free-kick over and Keseru curled another Steaua set-piece wide of target as the first half ended goalless.

Arlauskis preserved the status quo with a good save from Jacobsen and the Lithuania international's efforts were rewarded when Steaua took the lead two minutes later, Sanmartean's cross from the left curling beyond team-mate Fernando Varela and into the far corner of the net untouched.

Things quickly went from bad to worse for AaB, who lost keeper Larsen to a red card after he brought down Keseru when the forward was clear on goal.

Replacement Carsten Christensen was called on to face the penalty, Enevoldsen making way, but was beaten by another substitute in Rusescu.

And there was no let-up as Keseru took charge with the help of Alexandru Chipciu, the midfielder setting up all three of his goals in a devastating 11-minute salvo.

A neat through-ball created the first and Chipciu squared from the left of the penalty area as Keseru struck again before claiming the match ball in delightful style as Chipciu exchanged passes with Rusescu before sending his team-mate in to control and finish.

And Keseru was not finished there, immediately turning provider with a backheel flick through the defence as Rusescu added further misery for shell-shocked Aalborg.

Keseru was substituted straight away and his side finally eased off the gas, to the relief of their visitors.