UEFA Cup champion Valencia blew a 2-0 first-leg advantage and was eliminated by Steaua Bucharest on penalty kicks in the return game on Thursday.

Of the five Spanish teams in action, Valencia was the only one to go out.

In two more surprises, struggling 10-man Parma ousted VfB Stuttgart thanks to two extra-time goals, and four-time European Cup winner Ajax Amsterdam tossed away a lead to go out 3-1 to French club Auxerre.

Striker Andrei Cristea scored both second-half goals for Steaua to be up 2-0 at the end of regulation and extra time, and the Romanian side won the penalty shootout 4-3 in the round of 32 second-leg match before 20,000 home fans. Thousands more took to the capital's streets to celebrate.

"We always believed in our chance ... hope dies last," Cristea said.

Steaua players Mirel Radoi, Florin Lovin, Gabriel Bostina, Nicolae Dica scored from the spot, as did Valencia's Pablo Aimar, Miguel Angel "Mista" Ferrer, and Francisco Perez Rufete, but teammates Ruben Baraja and Marco Di Vaio fired over the bar.

Steaua's Italian coach Walter Zenga said his team played hard and tried not to think about the fame of their opponents: "The boys played with their hearts, because only with the heart you can win such a game."

The loss was expected to pile more pressure on Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri, who was already under fire from fans to resign because of its poor defense of the Spanish league title. Valencia hadn't won its last six league matches and was in sixth place.

In the rain, Valencia was pressed into its half for extended periods, and Steaua almost claimed an early lead in the third minute when Nicolae Dica's header hit the post.

Valencia came close in the 45th but Francisco Perez Rufete's shot from a free kick was tipped over the net by Steaua goalkeeper Vasily Khamutovski.

Cristea broke the deadlock in the 48th on a counterattack, speeding past two Valencia defenders and beating the 'keeper with a low shot despite the efforts of defender David Navarro.

Valencia went on the offensive after the goal, trying to put away the game, but it failed to create clear chances on the Romanian goal.

The rapid Cristea evened the overall score in the 68th, beating the offside trap and Andres Palop with a powerful high shot to the near corner.

Valencia had a goal disallowed in the 74th for offside, and came close in the 90th only for Fabio Aurelio's powerful shot from 25 meters to be saved by Khamutovski.

In extra time, both teams were conservative.

Steaua almost made it 3-0 in the 112th but Daniel Oprita's shot from 15 meters was deflected wide by a defender.

Substitute striker Mista retaliated a minute later with a dangerous shot from 17 meters that went just wide.