South Africa international Siyabonga Ngezana and his Romanian side FCSB took a giant leap toward making the Europa League Round of 16 after they handed PAOK a demoralising 2-1 defeat at home in the opening leg of the knockout round play-offs.
The only previous European meeting between the two sides came on matchday two of this season’s UEFA Europa League, with the Romanians winning that tie 1-0 in Greece.
The Thessaloniki giants were left to rue a costly first-half red card, in which Ngezana was involved in as he was dished a yellow card which saw him celebrate Taison’s sending off.
The “white-blacks” had broken the deadlock in the 21st minute courtesy of a close-range effort by striker Mbwana Samatta but substitute Andrei Gheorghita levelled matters in the 51st minute.
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FCSB again pounced on the extra-man advantage as sub Joyskim Dawa put them ahead with a corner header on the hour mark to put the home side on the back foot who will now have to summon immense strength to overcome the deficit in the return fixture away in Bucharest.
The second leg will be staged at the Arena Nationala in Bucharest on Thursday, February 20.
