Senegalese striker Thiam scores for FCSB in Romania, Ngezana withdrawn with injury

Senegalese striker Mamadou Thiam scored for FCSB during their 2-1 victory over FC Botoșani in a Romanian SuperLiga match on Thursday evening.

The 30-year-old scored three minutes to the break at a packed Arena Nationala in Bucharest during the SuperLiga match. Romanian Darius Olaru added the second goal for the hosts in the 74^th minute.

The second strike came two minutes after Ukrainian centre-forward Mykola Kovtalyuk had pulled one back for FC Botoșani.

South African defender Siyabonga Ngezana was named in the line up for FCSB but he was unable to make it into the actual game due to an injury. Daniel Graovac replaced the Bafana Bafana star after the injury.

Graovac himself was taken off at halftime due to his own injury and was replaced by Uganda national team player Baba Alhassan. Alhassan set up Olaru’s match winner with a game-winning assist.

 

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The fourth goal in 22 appearances for Thiam helped the club sometimes referred to by their past name, Steaua București, cement 10th place in the SuperLiga standings, 13 points behind the leaders Universitatea Craiova FC.

The defeat for Botoșani, who featured Malawian Charles Petro in midfield, undermined their push for continued European football. They lie in sixth place, 10 points behind Universitatea.