With a man less three quarters of the game: Rapid – Politehnica 1-0

With a man less three quarters of the game: Rapid – Politehnica 1-0

Politehnica Timişoara was defeated in the 8th round of the League 2 play-off, score 0-1 (0-0), away, with Rapid. Our team evolved for more than 75 minutes with one man less, after the elimination of Cristian Bocşan. Antonio Sefer scored the only goal of the match in the second half.

Our team started the game in Buftea with the same formula used at the start in the victory with U Craiova 1948 (score 2-1), the first team mathematically promoted in the elite. Politehnica was up in the field in the first minutes and the first chances to score came from a distance. R. Ilie (min. 11) for the hosts, respectively Ivanovici (13) for the white-violets, tried their shot, but were not precise.

The numerical balance on the turf was “broken” in the 16th minute, when Bocşan saw the second yellow card to a shot from the box sent by Bălan. The referee Ionuţ Coza (Ilfov) considered that our defender made a hand and dictated a penalty. However, on the action preceding this incident, Dandea fell on Coadă, a phase not taken into account. Fortunately, the penalty kick executed by Hlistei (20) was saved by Păduraru, with an intervention near the bar on his left. Although “in ten”, Politehnica could open the score a minute later, when Munteanu, launched by Axente, tried to send between Moldovan’s legs, but he managed to catch the ball. Rapid pressed harder, but without creating great opportunities until the break.

The second half started on the same note. The home side’s came close to extending the lead 54 minutes into the game. His shot came in from the right hand side but Păduraru managed to save it with an unbelievable reaction stop. Bălan (57) and Costin, at the resulting corner, also had opportunities for Rapid. Then our goalkeeper failed to stop the good shot sent by Sefer from outside the box (65). The same Sefer sent seven minutes later only in the side net. The white-purples were close to equalizing in the 81st minute, when, just inside, Radunovic shot from an angle, but Moldovan opposed with his foot. The extra time also brought a great chance for the hosts, through Ursu, who was blocked by the same George Păduraru.

After this failure, our team remains in 5th place with 39 points. The next game of the Polytechnic will be at home, with CS Mioveni, a game scheduled for Monday, May 17, at 6.30 pm, in the ninth round of the League 2 play-off, the penultimate.

FC Rapid: H. Moldovan – Jorza, Dandea (captain), Nastos, Goge – Costin, Barbu (90 + 3, R. Lazăr) – Sefer *, R. Ilie ** (71, Pănoiu **), Hlistei ( 71, Ursu) – Bălan (86, Ioniţă). On the bench: Drăghia – Voicu, Florică **, Ignat, D. Benzar. Coach: Mihai Iosif.

Polytechnic: Păduraru – Jurj *, Bocşan, Scutaru (captain), Pamfile (73, Ignea) – D. Radu **, Codrea, Coadă (80, Casado), Ivanovici – Axente (80, Radunovic), Munteanu (23, Mera). On the bench: Cuzmanovici ** – Popovici, R. Rus, D. Andrei **, Sofran *. Coach: Dan Alexa.

* -U20 player; ** – U18 player