Steaua Bucureşti fall to Lyon and Lăcătuş resigns

By: sasha | October 22nd, 2008

The Roş-Albaştrii knew they were going to have to score goals going into their Champions League match against Lyon. After Arthuro’s goal at the eight minute mark was followed up three minutes later by Tricolorii Dorin Goian strike off Bănel Nicoliţă’s corner, things appeared to be headed in the right direction for the Bucureşti giant. However Lyon’s Kader Keïta and Karim Benzema quickly countered and within twelve minutes of the break the match was level. The hopes of Steaua Bucureşti supporters were raised before the break as another of Bănel Nicoliţă’s corner created a goal, this from Ovidiu Petre’s header. With the score standing 3-2, Lyon came out on fire after the break. Fred, who had just entered the match for Kader Keïta leveled the match with twenty-one minutes remaining with Karim Benzema scoring his second of the night and giving Lyon the 4-3 lead only two minutes later. As Steaua Bucureşti searched for the draw, Lyon countered with the final goal by Fred deep into added-time to bring the score to 5-3.

Possibly bigger than the single loss was the resignation of manager Marius Lăcătuş, noting:

“It’s clear that I lost the support of everybody, officials, supporters and media, so there is no room for me to go on any more”

Steaua Bucureşti’s owner George Becali commented post-match left him little reason to stay and quite obviously forced the issue:

“I said that I would never sack Lăcătuş and I will respect my promise, so I will leave him alone until he drowns.”

While their has been considerable pressure on him and the lack of support by ownership in the media, his resignation at this stage of the season with the club only four points Dinamo Bucureşti couldn’t be at a worse time.