Source: Daily_Mail
Steaua Bucharest 1 Liverpool 1: Red qualify for last 32 of Europa League despite Pepe Reina howler
Roy Hodgson's eventful season continued here last night as his Liverpool side secured the point they needed to progress to the Europa League's first knockout stage.[LNB]The 1-1 draw means Liverpool finished top of Group K, but Hodgson had to suffer a furious tantrum from Joe Cole, substituted on his return from injury, and a goalkeeping howler from Pepe Reina for Steaua Bucharest's equaliser. [LNB]But not even Reina's uncharacteristic error and he had a laser shone at him on several occasions could dampen Hodgson' s mood, as Liverpool wrapped up matters with a game to spare.[LNB]'I'm very happy my team had confidence to take on this tough task and I'm delighted we have made itthrough,' said Hodgson. [LNB]'I was a bit concerned with team selection and we stuck it out very well. All credit to Steaua, they made us work very hard.' [LNB] Nowhere to hide: Pepe Reina tries in vain to claw the ball back after seeing it trickle over the line from Eder Bonfim's tame header[LNB]The Europa League has not been high on Hodgson's list of priorities since he took charge of Liverpool in July but now they have qualified with a game to play Milan Jovanovic's first-half header being cancelled out by Eder Bonfim that may change. [LNB]When Liverpool last visited Stadinoul Steaua in February, former manager Rafa Benitez selected a side that included Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Martin Skrtel and Yossi Benayoun to ensure there was no slip-up against Unirea Urziceni and was duly rewarded with a comfortable 3-1 win.[LNB]Circumstances meant the make-up of Hodgson's squad was completely different last night but eventhough this was a makeshift travelling party a fact illustrated by the sight of the 17-year-olds JackRobinson and John Flanagan on the bench eight internationals started. [LNB]Chief among them was Cole, who was returning to action after missing six games with, first, a hamstring problem then a jarred ankle. [LNB]Hodgson had made it clear the midfielder had something to prove here and his body language before kick-off was positive.[LNB]If only the same could have been said when his night ended. Hauled off after 75 ineffective minutes,Cole shook his head and spat out invective in frustration, slapping his hands down hard as he crossed paths with his replacement David Ngog. [LNB] High flyer: Milan Jovanovic leaps to put Liverpool 1-0 ahead[LNB]He arrived on Merseyside with such high expectations and has been desperate to show he can recapture the form that helped him win three Barclays Premier League titles with Chelsea, but atpresent he remains horribly out of sorts. [LNB]Cole, however, was not the only Liverpool player who started this contest with the intention ofimpressing. Jovanovic, not sighted since Napoli were beaten 3-1 at Anfield a month ago, relished being out in the middle again and performed with great assurance. [LNB]Frustrated by his lack of opportunities, the Serb was clearly bristling from the start and his releasecame on 17 minutes when he leapt highest to dispatch Ryan Babel's cross past Ciprian Tatarusanu with a glancing header. [LNB]His celebration rushing to the away section and kissing his badge was pure theatre but more significant were the glare at Hodgson and the point at the pitch which followed was this a message to say, 'Look what I can do'?[LNB]There was, though, a certain irony attached to Jovanovic's goal as it was the only time in the firstperiod that Liverpool remotely threatened and had Eric Bicfalvi and Bonfim shown greater conviction,Hodgson's side would have trailed at the interval. [LNB]Steaua's supporters even tried to assist their players with the laser. Reina was on the receiving end of a similar incident when Liverpool played Trabzonspor in Turkey in August.[LNB] One in the eye: Liverpool keeper Reina is blinded by a laser aimed from the crowd[LNB] 'It was a real pain,' said Reina. 'It wasn't anything to do with the goal but the laser was even strongerthan it was in Trabzonspor.' [LNB]Captain in the absence of the hamstrung Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, who is having shouldersurgery today, Reina had not put a glove out of place and dealt with everything that came his wayimpeccably, providing assurance to young defenders Martin Kelly and Danny Wilson.[LNB]So it came as a huge surprise when he allowed a tame header from Bonfim to squirm from his grasp on the hour, the ball trickling agonisingly across the line to enable Steaua to restore parity.[LNB] The offside decision Reina hoped would save his blushes never arrived. [LNB]MATCH FACTS STEAUA BUCHAREST (4-4-2): Tatarusanu 6; Bonfim 6, Gardos 6,Geraldo 7, Latovlevici 7; Nicolita 6,Ricardo 6, Bicfalvi 5 (Angelov 46min, 6),Tanase 7; Surdu 7 (Szekely 80), Stancu 6. Subs not used: Lungu, Emeghara,Abrudan, Martinovic, Matei. Booked: Nicolita, Bonfim.[LNB]LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Reina 7; Kelly 6,Kyrgiakos 7, Wilson 6, Aurelio 6;Shelvey 6, Poulsen 7; Pacheco 5(Lucas 90), Cole 5 (Ngog 75, 5),Jovanovic 8 (Eccleston 79); Babel 6.Subs not used: Jones, Skrtel, Flanagan,Robinson.[LNB]Man of the match: Milan Jovanovic.[LNB]Referee: Bulent Yildirn (Turkey). [LNB]'I've watched replays and it's myfault. It's my mistake and I have to handle that,' said Reina. 'Idefinitely should have reacted much better than I did. I will handlethe mistake and improve.' [LNB]Fortunately for Reina, it did not prove costly. Steaua huffed and puffed but never threatened to fashion a winner, and Liverpool's players worked tirelessly to maintain Hodgson's eight-match unbeaten record in Europe.[LNB]Sotirios Kyrgiakos almost pinched it with a header that hit the bar. When Liverpool arrived here onWednesday Hodgson was, rather curiously, asked to explain what memories he had of the country.[LNB]'Only happy ones,' he replied in a flash. 'When I was manager of Switzerland we beat Romania at the 1994 World Cup in Detroit and it was a very important victory.' [LNB]So while domestic life may be a struggle for Hodgson at the moment, Europe is becoming a happy distraction and he wants the adventure to continue. [LNB]He will know, though, that performances will have to improve if, like he did with Fulham last year, he is going to reach the final. [LNB] Hodgson hopes Liverpool's European exploits can restore Cole's confidence Liverpool swoop for Marveaux as Comolli attempts to secure free dealSteaua Bucharest v Liverpool: As as it happenedLIVERPOOL FC
