Giurgiu stalemate sees ICT exit Europa League
CALEY Thistle's Europa League adventure came to an end after a frustrating 0-0 draw against FC Astra.
Opportunities on goal were rare for the Highland Capital club with Constantin Budescu's first-leg goal proving decisive.
A cagey affair in the south of Romania saw Inverness hold their own and were certainly not overawed by the task at hand.
However, cutting edge was lacking as Astra eeked out a narrow aggregate victory.
The Caley Jags had a 1-0 deficit to overturn from the first leg, which came courtesy of Budescu's goal.
More than 400 visiting supporters made the journey to Giurgiu from Inverness, via Bucharest, with many of them in fine voice well ahead of kick-off.
Astra's preparations had been turbulent on and off the field. A 5-1 home defeat to ASA Targu Mures on Sunday, their worst home defeat since 1999, preceded Steaua Bucharest having offers for star players Denis Alibec and William De Amorim accepted this week.
Caley Thistle made one change from last week's team at the Stadinoul Marin Anastasovici, with Ross Draper dropping out for David Raven. Astra continued with talisman Budescu in a forward role while De Amorim started despite speculation over his future.
John Hughes had a squad of just 17 at his disposal, with Carl Tremarco, James Vincent and Jordan Roberts absent through injury. The ICT manager spoke pre-match about nursing a couple of further knocks in the travelling squad, with Draper perhaps one who was less than fully-fit.
Temperatures reached the mid-30s in the Romanian capital and at kick-off time in Giurgiu, on the border with Bulgaria, players were greeted with a humid 31 degrees.
The hosts enjoyed an early spell of possession with head coach Marius Sumudica keen to get right-sider Gabriel Enache involved in the game, matched up against Raven.
Aaron Doran saw an early effort charged down on the edge of the area but the majority of play was in the visitors' half. The closest they came to threatening Owain Fon Williams' goal, however, was a glancing header from Valerica Gaman that went comfortably wide.
Greg Tansey, deployed off Dani Lopez once again, blazed a free-kick high into the stands from fully 30 yards as Inverness sought to get an early sighter at Silviu Lung.
At the opposite end, Danny Devine provided a couple of well-timed interventions to prevent dangerous crosses from Enache reaching the penalty area.
Doran was proving to be Inverness' most threatening outlet going forward, cutting inside and finding pockets of space to drive at the Astra defence. Ryan Christie fulfilled a similar role on the right-hand side as he drifted in-field to get on the ball.
The struggle for Hughes' men was getting Lopez involved in the game, as the Spaniard was often man-handled by Gaman and Geraldo Alves in the centre of the Astra back four. He was dropping deeper to try get himself involved in the play but spent the majority of the first half chasing the ball from the hosts' defence.
An interchange between Raven and Doran set the Irishman away and his cross-shot drew the first save of the game from Romanian international Lung five minutes before the break. Astra were content to sit in and allow Caley Thistle to keep possession and again Doran tested Lung, stealing in to nod a downward header at goal.
Pressure was finally starting to come from the visitors and Lung had to be at his best to tip over a rasping effort from Christie before the break. A slick move that also included Tansey found space for the 20-year-old, whose arrowing effort was tipped over the bar.
Thrust into his debut a week ago, Fon Williams had a much quieter start to this game. He was not tested until eight minutes into the second half as Budescu's scuffed effort forced him into a low stop.
His first save was quickly followed by a smart second as Christie gavfe possession away cheaply inside his own half. The ball broke to Budescu who from 25 yards, let fly and drew a strong parry from the Welshman.
Astra were beginning to create opportunities as Inverness pushed more men forward. Junior Morais' rising effort required a strong hand from Fon Williams to tip over before Alves headed a deep cross wide.
ICT's probing around the Astra penalty area was failing to prise the Romanians open, with shooting opportunities spurned by poor final balls. Josh Meekings spent much of the second half operating as a right-winger and often got himself into promising positions,only to be passed by.
Time ticked on and the Caley Jags were still searching for a break-through, with Doran drilling his shot straight into the ground that Lung gratefully claimed with 14 minutes to go.
Hughes threw on Richie Foran and Draper in a bid to turn the game but the home side should have had the game wrapped up, with Budescu wasting two glorious chances to beat Fon Williams.
However, it proved not to be required as Sumudica's team held on to book a place in the third qualifying round.
ASTRA GIURGIU: Lung; Queiros, G. Alves, Gaman, Morais, Boldrin (Dandea, 84), Seto, Teixeira, Amorim, Enache (Florea, 80), Budescu (Lovin, 89). Subs unused: Gavrilas, Oros, R. Alves, Stan. Booked: Lung.
CALEY THISTLE: Fon Williams; Meekings, Warren, Devine, Raven, Wedderburn (Draper, 79), Christie, Williams (Foran, 78), Doran, Tansey, Lopez. Subs unused: Esson, Horner, Polworth, Brown. Booked: Raven, Williams, Lopez.
Referee: A. Kuchin.
