Steaua beat Dynamo Kiev 4-1

Kiev, Ukraine:

Nicolae Dica scored a goal in each half and Steau Bucharest won 4-1 at Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday to open their European Champions League campaigns. Defender Sorin Ghionea put Steau ahead with a header after only three minutes, and - after a 16th-minute equalizer by Serhiy Rebrov - Valentin Badea scored the eventual winner with a diving header off the post in the 24th. Dica added goals in the 43rd and 79th minutes to help mark Steau's triumphant return to the group phase of the Champions League after a 10-year absence. Ghionea started the return quickly, getting unmarked at the far post and heading a corner by midfielder Vasilica Cristocea past Dynamo's goalkeeper Oleksandr Shovkovskiy. Rebrov tied the game after exchanging passes with Brazilian midfielder Diogo Rincon and toe-poking the ball powerfully past Steaua's goalkeeper Carlos Alberto Fernandes. Besides his two goals, Dica set up Badea for the go-ahead goal, crossing it into his path for a 2-1 lead. Dica added insurance with a free kick from 25 meters into the top corner of the net two minutes before halftime, and after Fernandes thwarted Dynamo's forward Maxim Shatskikh in the 54th, substitute Cyril Thereau played into space for Dica, who dribbled into the penalty area before beating Shovkovskiy. (AP)