Photo: Immediately after the match. Top row: Sht. Bathory I (goalkeeper coach), G. Radu, M. Presa (masseur); middle row: I. Stoican, Stoicov, P. Barna, Artimon, Gușatu, M. Sasu, O. Trandu, Velcea, A. Șunda (head coach), Urai; bottom row: Al. Balaj, Ad. Săvoiu, Fl. Călin, Al. Kovacs (photo by Cornel Rácz)
On April 12, 1997, Politehnica Timișoara defeated Dinamo 3-0 in the first division. It was the most clear-cut home victory of the Albiceleste against Dinamo. Poli were relegated at the end of that season.

The “Renașterea bănățeană” dedicated almost two pages to that match, under the signature of Octavian Stăncioiu. Here is the first one: Renasterea banateana_1997_04-14

We will reproduce only the first article:

Historic victory

* Poli rises from its own ashes

Motto: “Everything is possible and nothing is possible” (Cioran)

For Poli, beating Steaua and Dinamo has always been the key. They beat the military in the fall, 1-0, now it’s the turn of the MI. Nobody could believe their eyes. At half-time, the scoreboard read an incredible 3-0 to the Light Blues! The score was opened by the young Sasu (what a great player he could become!), and then Prunea gave Kovács the gift that made it 2-0. Two minutes before half-time, Gușatu fell in the box and pen to paper. “Guși-goal” turns in the style consecrated by Socrates at the World Cup in Mexico ’86 and the matchless Timisoara’s stands literally go up in flames. The rest was history. In ’87, Poli beat Dinamo 2-1, stronger than ever. Lucescu, Rednic, Moraru, Cămătaru, Mateuț, Andone… 50,000 people were delirious. Now, from the position of (almost) relegated, the Bega’s students’ band administered a forfeit score to a team in rising form and strongly entrenched in the fight for the UEFA Cup. Sadly, the team are now paying the price for their two losing streaks: seven consecutive defeats in the first leg and five in the second. The chances of salvation are only theoretical. But they exist and should not be neglected. The boys have shown that it can be done.On Saturday, they will play an absolutely crucial match in Severin. Craiova has perhaps the weakest team in the last 30 years (Pistrițu, Naicu, the Witch!) and can be beaten. Let’s believe in miracles. In 1940, when Hitler’s battalions invaded France, De Gaulle said: “If a miracle can save our country, then I believe in miracles”. After all, France was saved, so miracles do exist.

…And the tech box: