FCSB advance to the next round South Africa's Siyabonga Ngezana celebrates with his teammates after FCSB beat PAOK to advance to the next round of the Europa League on Thursday. Photo: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP
Image: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP
Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana celebrated on the pitch with a South African flag after FCSB – formely Steaua Bucharest – booked their place in last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Romanian champions beat PAOK 2-0 in the second leg on to secure a 4-1 aggregate win in the knockout phase playoffs after finishing 11th during the league phase of Europe’s second biggest continental club competition.
The Bafana Bafana defender and his team will now face either Lyon or Frankfurt in the next stage, and will be eyeing a possible quarter-final date against English giants Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur.
Earlier in the tournament, Ngezana and FCSB went down 2-0 to Manchester United in the final league phase game in Bucharest. Before the match, 27-year-old was one of players praised by United boss Ruben Amorim.
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"I know this FCSB team. I've studied it," the Portuguese tactician said ahead of the clash. "They play differently in Europe than in the championship. Sometimes they give up possession, with a fast striker in transition.
"There are two strong central defenders and full-backs who go up and down the whole match," said Amorim.
After a making a strong start where they kept their illustrious opponents at bay for over an hour, United eventually breached their defences and scored two quick goals through Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo.
For Ngezana, one person who will be keeping an eye on his progress in the Europa League will be Bafana coach Hugo Broos, who is currently preparing to name his team for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin in March, a week after the round of 16 clashes in the Europa League.
IOL Sport