Champions League: Schalke beat Steaua 3-0

Berlin: Atsuto Uchida`s opener in the second half helped Schalke overpower Steaua Bucuresti 3-0 in group E of the Champions League at Veltins-Arena.

The Royal Blues started the match Wednesday aggressively but were kept at bay by a resilient Steaua. Japan international Atsuto Uchida broke the deadlock for Schalke, when his cross floated untouched into the back of Steaua`s goal at the 67th minute. The opener gave the home side more confidence as Boateng utilised Julian Draxler`s assist inside the box to beat Ciprian Tatarusanu with a curl into the far post corner eleven minutes later. Draxler added the third by chipping onrushing Tatarusanu to make it 3-0 with five minutes remaining. "We ensured a perfect start into the Champions League. I`m extremely happy about that," Schalke coach Jens Keller said after the game. IANS