Two quickfire first-half goals gave Steaua Bucharest a 2-0 UEFA Europa League win over Molde in a game they thoroughly dominated.
Romanian side make fast start against Norwegians
Two quickfire first-half goals gave Steaua Bucharest a richly-deserved 2-0 UEFA Europa League win over Molde in a game they thoroughly dominated.
Vlad Chiriches' spectacular opener was swiftly added to by Raul Rusescu as the Romanian side got the reward for their early dominance.
There was no let-up after the break but Molde keeper Ole Soderberg fought a lone vigil to keep the scoreline respectable for the outclassed Norwegians.
Iasmin Latovlevici set the tone with a shot against the post in the second minute. And Soderberg had to be at his best to deny Cristian Tanase, twice, and Daniel Georgievski, still inside the opening 10 minutes.
He then tipped Alexandru Chipciu's free-kick over the bar and, from the resulting corner, Borre Steenslid's block denied the same player.
After nearly 15 minutes' respite, Molde's goal came under threat again from Tanase's corner but Lukas Szukala headed over.
When the dam finally broke, though, Steaua inflicted maximum damage with two goals in as many minutes.
Chiriches made the breakthrough with a moment of magic, conjuring an overhead kick from near the penalty spot to find the bottom corner after Rusescu's shot was deflected up in the air.
And Molde had barely recovered their composure when Rusescu added the second after being teed up by Latovlevici.
Soderberg saved from Chipciu as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team somehow reached the interval just two behind and he excelled himself again in the 58th minute, saving Tanase's penalty after Magne Simonsen fouled Chipciu and was booked.
Mihai Costea headed Alexandru Bourceanu's corner wide and Soderberg saved from Tanase before Molde finally mustered an attack worthy of the name, but Etzaz Hussain could not steer Magnus Stamnesstro's corner on goal.
Soderberg fielded Costea's free-kick and Chipciu shot wide as Steaua failed to give the scoreline a realistic look.
