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Aalborg steal a march on Steaua

Aalborg BK 1-0 FC Steaua Bucureşti
Thomas Enevoldsen's goal moved the hosts above the Romanian visitors in Group J and a win away from a place in the knockout phase.

Thomas Enevoldsen celebrates his winner for Aalborg
Thomas Enevoldsen celebrates his winner for Aalborg ©AFP/Getty Images

Thomas Enevoldsen goal maintains 100% home record for Aalborg
• AaB leapfrog Steaua into second place in Group J
• Final day win at Rio Ave will guarantee progress for hosts
• Steaua must defeat Dynamo Kyiv to give themselves chance
Next games: Steaua v Dynamo Kyiv, Rio Ave v AaB (11 December)

It is advantage Aalborg BK in the race for Group J's second qualifying place as a beautiful Thomas Enevoldsen goal helped them beat FC Steaua Bucureşti and jump two points clear of the Romanian visitors with a game to play.

Steaua blew away the Danish side with a 6-0 matchday one win, but the hosts are different prospect on their own turf, having also seen off FC Dynamo Kyiv and Rio Ave FC at the Aalborg Stadion this term. However, the away team appeared the stronger in the first half, especially with forward Claudiu Keșerü providing a constant threat.

Despite the domination by the Bucharest club, it was AaB who had the biggest chance of the opening period but Andreas Bruhn just failed to flick the ball past Giedrius Arlauskis from a driven left-wing cross, directing his effort into the goalkeeper's arms.

Visiting supremacy continued into the second half and Cristian Tänase underlined this with a superb volley, only to see keeper Nicolai Larsen block the attempt on the line. Aalborg's build-up play looked good yet they lacked a killer ball, but as time ticked down their accuracy sharpened and Enevoldsen made the difference. Kasper Risgård centred from the right and the No7 brought the ball down with his chest before sending a volley arcing over the helpless Arlauskis and into the goal.

Risgård came close to making it two only to be denied by Arlauskis, while opposite number Larsen also had to be on form late on before Keșerü missed the opportunity to equalise deep in added time as he sent a header the wrong side of the post.

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