Maldarasanu makes Rapid's day

Bucharest celebrates
Maladarasanu's effort on the stroke of half-time gave the Bucharest outfit their third Group G win in succession to complete a fine UEFA Cup week for the competition's Romanian contingent. Earlier in the evening, FC Dinamo Bucuresti won 1-0 against PFC CSKA Moskva, while FC Steaua Bucuresti won 3-0 against Halmstads BK in their tie on Wednesday night.

Mieciel denied
The first chance of the game fell to PAOK, and Polish striker Marcin Mieciel, but his right-footed shot from 15 metres was held by Danut Coman. Moments later, Armenian international Artavazd Karamyan fired wide at other end with an effort from long range.

Niculae header
Maldarasanu then warmed the hands of PAOK's Daniel Fernandes with a shot from 25 metres that the Portuguese goalkeeper did well to hold. The game remained open, with chances at either end, and just after the half-hour mark, Rapid's Daniel Niculae headed Mugurel Buga's cross goalwards, but Lazaros Hristodoulopoulos was able to get a block in.

Maldarasanu strike
Rapid continued to push forward but Fernandes was looking good in the PAOK goal, getting across to tip Buga's right-footed shot around the post in the 40th minute. However, just as the visitors began to settle, the hosts took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Cameroonian Guy Armand Feutchine brought down Robert Ilyes 20 metres from goal and Maldarasanu stepped up to fire the free-kick into the top right-hand corner of the goal.

PAOK push
PAOK began the second period brightly as they looked for an equaliser. Mieciel fired narrowly wide from distance before Hristodoulopoulos narrowly missed the target, shooting over from ten metres. In the 65th minute Elias Charalambous tried his luck with a free-kick after a foul on Christos Karipidis, but Rapid goalkeeper Coman was able to hold it. At the other end, Niculae headed just wide in the 68th minute from a Valentin Badoi free-kick.

Relaxed finale
Dionysios Chasiotis also headed wide with 14 minutes remaining, this time from a Charalambous corner, and that was the last real threat in the match as Rapid played out time to take the three points and secure their passage to the last 32.