Go Ahead Eagles failed to win their first European game since 1965, as Romanian giants FCSB secured a 1-0 win in an entertaining game in Deventer.
Go Ahead Eagles made their first European main draw appearance since 1965, when Celtic beat the Deventer outfit 6-1 in the Europa Cup II. The reigning Dutch cup winners opened their maiden UEFA Europa League voyage with an unchanged side following a 2-0 IJsselderby win over PEC Zwolle.
FCSB are having a harder time in Romania, where the phoenix club failed to win any of the last eight league games. Striker Denis Alibec returned to the starting lineup for the second time this season, giving manager Elias Charalambous a boost up front.
The Eagles opened as the stronger side in a loud Adelaarshorst, but fell behind regardless when David Miculescu calmly finished from inside the box following lost possession from the home side and an accurate cross from Alibec.
Go Ahead Eagles dialled up the pressure after FCSB's opening goal and quickly got some big chances to show for it. Belgian winger Mathis Suray found himself in two very favourable positions in FCSB's box, but twice failed to beat Stefan Tarnovanu in the opening twenty minutes.
The home side continued to create chances and got awfully close to levelling the score, but Victor Edvardsen saw both of his efforts just fly over Tarnovanu's crossbar, leaving the home side at zero goals for the opening half.
The Romanian visitors solidified their defence after the break and limited the Eagles to shooting blanks, all the while FCSB created half a chance at most themselves.
Go Ahead Eagles tried, but could not penetrate FCSB's defence as the Deventer outfit failed to win their first European match since 1965, falling 1-0 to FCSB.
The Eagles continue their European journey next week, when they'll play Panathinaikos in Athens.
FCSB catch a lucky break amid a form crisis and open their UEFA Europa League campaign with a win - one they hope to build on when Young Boys come to visit Bucharest next week.
View all the match and player statistics of Go Ahead Eagles-FCSB on Flashscore.
