Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni came from behind against Stuttgart to earn their first point in Group G.
Tasci puts Stuttgart ahead before Varga equalises
Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni came from behind against Stuttgart to earn their first point in UEFA Champions League Group G.
The German outfit dominated the early play and had the opening chance in the first minute but Roberto Hilbert sent his shot from the right side of the box into the side-netting.
But the visitors made no mistake in the fifth minute when Timo Gebhart headed on a long ball into the path of Serdar Tasci who slotted home with his left foot from close range.
But the Romanian champions were almost level by default in the tenth minute when Joao Bruno Fernandes' hopeful ball forward was misjudged by Stuttgart keeper Jens Lehmann but it went just wide.
Arthur Boka then unleashed a long range effort for Stuttgart in the 13th minute but keeper Giedrius Arlauskis was down to save, while Thomas Hitzlsperger shot wide soon afterwards.
Dangerous cross
Unirea's first real chance came in the 23rd minute when Dacian Varga's dangerous cross from the left had to be put out by Boka ahead of the incoming Tiberic Balan, but the Romanians could not capitalise on the resulting corner.
The unmarked Vasile Maftei then had a great chance for the home side in the 32nd minute when latching onto a cross from Epaminonda Nicu but he put his shot from the edge of the six yard box over with the goal gaping.
But three minutes after the restart, Varga put the home side level - and scored their first-ever goal in Europe - with a left-footed curler from the right-side of the box after Stuttgart had failed to clear.
Stuttgart had a chance to go back in front almost immediately afterwards but Ciprian Marica's header from close range was saved by Arlauskis.
The Unirea keeper then had to get down well to his left to deny Pavel Pogrebnyak's left-footed effort from the edge of the box, while Bruno Fernandes did well to block Marica's effort soon afterwards.
Marica then shot over on the turn in the 63rd minute before Raul Rusescu headed well wide with a half-chance at the other end.
Mazy run
Gebhart made a mazy run into the Unirea box in the 67th minute but shot straight at Arlauskis, and then did the same thing three minutes later before forcing Arlauskis into a better save.
He was then booked for a foul on Varga in the 80th minute before Hilbert's volley from close range went over.
Maftei was booked before Iulian Apostol's long range effort was easily gathered by Lehmann, while Hitzlsperger's shot from outside the box went over at the other end.
The draw means Stuttgart remain unbeaten after their opening two games in Group G, while Unirea are on the same points as Rangers, who went down 4-1 at home to runaway leaders Sevilla to drop to the bottom of the table on goal difference.
| Unirea Urziceni |
Team Statistics |
VfB Stuttgart |
| 1 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 2 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
| 3 |
Corners |
1 |
| 16 |
Fouls |
22 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
0 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 75.8 |
Passing Success |
70.3 |
| 13 |
Tackles |
22 |
| 69.2 |
Tackles Success |
68.2 |
| 52.5 |
Possession |
47.5 |
| 52.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
47.5 |
|
