West Ham's European adventure lost its gloss in Bucharest last night when a goal in each half gave Steaua a two-goal cushion to take to Upton Park.
But Frank Lampard almost put a different complexion on the tie with an 80th minute header which was ruled out for offside.
The England midfielder headed against the bar four minutes from time and also saw a free-kick deflected wide.
This was always going to be West Ham's toughest test on their return to European competition and so it proved as Laurentiu Rosu and Sabin Ilie grabbed the goals.
Steaua rattled West Ham with neat passing on a dreadful pitch and Shaka Hislop was the busiest man in the stadium early on.
STEAUA BUCHAREST: Ritli, Reghecampf, M. Baciu, Miu, Bordeanu, Duro, Lincar, Danciulescu (Lutu 90), Rosu, Ciocoiu (Ogararu 90), Ilie (Luca 76). Subs Not Used: Hotoboc, Chiorean, Baciu, Iordache. Goals: Rosu 40, Ilie 57.
WEST HAM UNITED: Hislop, Lomas, Potts (Margas 62), Ruddock, Ferdinand, Sinclair, Lampard, Moncur, Foe, Wanchope, Di Canio (Cole 55). Subs Not Used: Forrest, Carrick, Newton, Kitson, Keller. Booked: Moncur, Di Canio.
Referee: C Bo-larsen (Denmark).
