David Ngog’s late goal spared Liverpool’s blushes at Anfield last night as they saw off Unirea Urziceni 1-0 in the Europea League.
The French striker struck nine minutes from time to give the Reds a narrow lead to take into the second leg of their last-32 tie.
Liverpool had dropped into Europe’s second-tier competition after crashing out of the Champions League before Christmas.
That followed a succession of poor results, which included back-to-back home defeats against Lyon and Fiorentina. However, manager Rafael Benitez insisted Liverpool were taking this competition seriously and he named his strongest possible side.
Yet they still struggled to break down their determined visitors, who on their last trip to Britain – in the Champions League group stage earlier this season – routed Rangers 4-1.
Since then, though they have lost Dan Petrescu – the manager who led them to the Romanian title last season after the former Chelsea full-back walked out during the winter break to join Russian club Kuban Krasnodar.
And his successor Roni Levy’s first game in charge was going to plan until Ngog stabbed home after Danny Pacheco nodded Ryan Babel’s cross into his path.
Fulham, the other English club in action last night, also won. Roy Hodgson’s men beat defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at Craven Cottage thanks to goals either side of half-time by Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora.
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David Ngog late goal gives Liverpool narrow victory
David Ngog’s late goal spared Liverpool’s blushes at Anfield last night as they saw off Unirea Urziceni 1-0 in the Europea League.
The French striker struck nine minutes from time to give the Reds a narrow lead to take into the second leg of their last-32 tie.
Liverpool had dropped into Europe’s second-tier competition after crashing out of the Champions League before Christmas.
That followed a succession of poor results, which included back-to-back home defeats against Lyon and Fiorentina. However, manager Rafael Benitez insisted Liverpool were taking this competition seriously and he named his strongest possible side.
Yet they still struggled to break down their determined visitors, who on their last trip to Britain – in the Champions League group stage earlier this season – routed Rangers 4-1.
Since then, though they have lost Dan Petrescu – the manager who led them to the Romanian title last season after the former Chelsea full-back walked out during the winter break to join Russian club Kuban Krasnodar.
And his successor Roni Levy’s first game in charge was going to plan until Ngog stabbed home after Danny Pacheco nodded Ryan Babel’s cross into his path.
Fulham, the other English club in action last night, also won. Roy Hodgson’s men beat defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at Craven Cottage thanks to goals either side of half-time by Zoltan Gera and Bobby Zamora.
