Manchester City ran roughshod over Romanian club Steaua Bucuresti's Champions League dreams. They, and Pep Guardiola in his first European game in charge for them, won the first play-off game in this season's competition by a margin of five goals to nil.
City are almost through to the group stage of the Champions League, barring a minor miracle in the return leg in Manchester in a week's time. The club has to qualify for the main stage after finishing 4th in last season's Premier League.
The visitors could have had 10 goals as Sergio Aguero bagged a hat-trick despite missing two penalties in the first half.
While the Romanian club has no officially verified Twitter account, the account most widely followed by Steaua's fans, @fcsteaua made sure that the Argentina striker didn't forget his penalty misses.
Sergio Oilguero! via @Cheers_geoff pic.twitter.com/C7ydddiyHQ
— Steaua București (@FCSteaua) August 16, 2016
cc @aguerosergiokun 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Pnqn1yCwMv
— Steaua București (@FCSteaua) August 16, 2016
The other two goals were bagged by the Spanish duo of David Silva, who began the scoring for City, and new-signing Nolito, who opened his account for his new club.
Despite the loss, the handlers of the account were upbeat and trolled City for its "oily" relations – its Qatari backing – and its apparent lack of history, and also termed them "Man Utd wannabes" and "Little Tiny Man Utd".
BREAKING NEWS!!! Owner of Oil FC decided to quit! Man City sent to the conference! 😂😂😂😂! I wonder how many gallons of oil is the club worth?
— Steaua București (@FCSteaua) August 16, 2016
Min 60:
— Steaua București (@FCSteaua) August 16, 2016
Steaua 0-3 Little tiny Man Utd! #ThoseNoisyNeighbours
Are man city playing in dark blue because they are turning into oil? 😂😂😂😂
Min 65:
— Steaua București (@FCSteaua) August 16, 2016
Steaua 0-3 Man Utd wannabes! #OilCity #ItsAllAboutTheOil
Even the mighty Pep Guardiola wasn't spared.
Min 83: Steaua 0-4 #OilCity
— Steaua București (@FCSteaua) August 16, 2016
Like Pep came to ManCity because of their history! 😂😂😂😂😂 #PepIsBald #OilClub
It is important to remember that Bucaresti won the European Cup in 1986 before the competition was re-christened the Champions League.
At the final whistle, the tweets seemed cheerful and continued the banter. It is safe to say that Twitterati are looking forward to the second leg.
Steaua 0-5 Little Tiny Man Utd
— Steaua București (@FCSteaua) August 16, 2016
We lost! But who cares! Once the oil guy leaves Man City's top game will be against their U21's! 😂😂😂😂
Looking forward to the next game! Where is ManCity's home ground? Wanna go to the game! Got a map for Sahara Desert? #OilCity #Diggin4Oil
— Steaua București (@FCSteaua) August 16, 2016
Steaua Bucuresti 0 lose to Manchester City 5 (David Silva, Sergio Aguero – 3, Nolito)