Unirea Urziceni coach Dan Petrescu hailed Luis Fabiano as "the best striker in the world" after the Brazilian's strike set Sevilla on their way to a 2-0 victory over the Romanians. "What Luis Fabiano can do I haven't seen for a long time," Petrescu said. Fabiano, whose 10 goals in qualifying have seen Brazil secure their World Cup spot, fired a low shot home on the stroke of half-time of the Group G game at Ramon Sanchez de Pizjuan Stadium, after Renato crossed following a gallop down the left wing.
Sevilla then doubled the lead in the 70th minute when Fabiano headed on a corner, allowing midfielder Renato to nod past goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis from close range. Petrescu, a former Chelsea player, said he expected more of his team, who were making their Champions League debut. "We have five more games and I hope that, when we play the return match, we can win," he said. In the other group match, Stuttgart drew 1-1 with Rangers.
In Group E, Miralem Pjanic scored 14 minutes from time as Lyon beat their Italian rivals Fiorentina 1-0. Fiorentina's hard tackling stifled Lyon, but the Italians were punished for rough tactics moments before the end of the first half when striker Alberto Gilardino was sent off for a challenge on Jeremy Toulalan. Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli refused to comment on the referee's decision while Claude Puel, the Lyon coach, said: "I didn't really see Gilardino's gesture. But we had to be careful tonight and adapt to the refereeing, it was a lot different to what we're used to in the French league. It was a real European tie. We had to raise our game, so did they."
* With agencies
