UCL: Slavia Prague 2-1 S Bucuresti: Prague off to a flier

	Slavia Prague - Steaua Bucuresti 13' Zdenek Senkerik 1 - 0 33' 1 - 1 Dorin Goian 63' Tijani Belaid 2 - 1
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Goals from Zdenek Senkerik and Tijani Belaid gave Slavia Prague a 2-1 victory over Steaua Bucharest in their Group H Champions League debut on Wednesday.

Senkerik put the home side ahead after 13 minutes, pouncing on the loose ball after forward Stanislav Vlcek's close-range shot was parried by goalkeeper Robinson Zapata.

Steaua levelled in the 33rd minute when defender Dorin Goian headed in from a corner but Belaid made it a winning start for Slavia in their first Champions League appearance with a shot from inside the box in the 63rd minute.

'We lost two players in the first half (to injuries)...but I think we did not really allow the opponents to do anything in the second half,' said Slavia skipper Vlcek.

'We are happy we began like that. We want to enjoy this, everybody knows how long we have waited for this.'

Vlcek missed a great chance to add a third in the 75th minute, failing to score after being clean through on goal.

Steaua manager Gheorghe Hagi was satisfied with their display.

'I am happy with the team's performance, only the final 20 minutes were weaker and one mistake decided the second half,' he said.

Hagi had been under pressure from Steaua's owner Gigi Becali to make two changes in the starting line-up or face leaving the club.

But Hagi only followed one of the demands, putting Valentin Badoi into the starting line-up, while the other, striker Romeo Surdu, only came on as a substitute.

'I picked the players that I was convinced would give the best performance,' Hagi said. 'It is my responsibility.'

Source: Soccernet.com