LONDON(AP) Sevilla took another big step towards retaining its UEFA Cup title by winning 2-0 at Steaua Bucharest on Thursday in the first leg of the first knockout round.
The Spanish club, which outplayed Middlesbrough 4-0 in last season's final, cruised to victory with a 41st minute strike by Christian Poulsen and a 77th-minute penalty by Frederic Kanoute.
The result gives the Spanish club a seemingly easy job when the two teams meet again in the second leg in Seville Feb. 22. However, Steaua won 3-0 in the same city at Real Betis last season to reach the quarterfinals of the same competition.
© 2008 by STATS LLC.
