Europa League | FCSB 1-2 Bologna: Impressive victory in Bucharest

Bologna secured their first Europa League win of the season with early Jens Odgaard and Thijs Dallinga goals, but thanked Lukasz Skorupski for some big saves against Steaua Bucharest.

The Rossoblu were coming off back-to-back Serie A victories, but still looking for their first Europa League success after a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa and 1-1 draw with Freiburg. Ciro Immobile was the only remaining injury absentee, though coach Vincenzo Italiano missed out, as he was in hospital undergoing treatment for pneumonia. Steaua Bucharest beat the Go Ahead Eagles away and lost 2-0 at home to Young Boys, having dropped out of the Champions League preliminary rounds and beaten Aberdeen in the Europa League play-offs.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Remo Freuler’s high press in midfield proved decisive, as it allowed Thijs Dallinga to roll across from the left, for the simplest of Jens Odgaard tap-ins.

Bologna doubled their lead moments later from a corner, as a Charalampos Lykogiannis volley was deflected, the goalkeeper preventing an own goal, but unable to stop Dallinga turning in the rebound.

Orsolini was far too greedy when he should’ve rolled across for Dallinga, instead going for goal himself, forcing a double save on him and then Jonathan Rowe.

Orsolini also had the ball in the net on 32 minutes, but was offside before the fantastic bit of skill to turn a defender from six yards.

Lukasz Skorupski had to make a desperate double save on a corner, flapping away both the initial Siyabonga Ngezana header and the Adrian Sut rebound. A few minutes later, the Bologna goalkeeper was again called into action by Mamadou Thiam, who had sent a defender to ground.

Rowe was at serious risk of a second yellow card on the stroke of half-time for a clumsy high boot, as the referee seemed to put a hand to his pocket and take it away.

Orsolini drilled inches wide from the edge of the box, but Steaua got back into the game moments later. A cross from the right was not cleared effectively by Martin Vitik, and Jhon Lucumi was too slow to react, allowing substitute Daniel Birligea to volley in from six yards.

Nikola Moro and Niccolò Cambiaghi scorchers were just over from outside the area, while Dallinga blasted straight at the goalkeeper after cutting inside from the left.

Birligea also threatened an equaliser, nodding onto the side-netting at the back post, while Orsolini’s attempted tap-in was cleared in the six-yard box on a Dallinga roll across.

Tarnovanu got down for a crucial fingertip save to push the Odgaard snooker shot round the base of the upright.

Orsolini was ready with a chest and half-volley from nine yards, deflected onto the woodwork by Ngezana’s desperate lunge.

Odgaard 9 (B), Dallinga 12 (B), Birligea 54 (S)