Politehnica didn’t get rid of the problems they had at the end of the match in the 8th round of League 2 either. Although in Targu Jiu our team restored parity at the end through Erik Gerbi’s goal, the hosts from Viitorul Pandurii won in extra time, scoring 2-1!

Our team was reduced in number due to numerous injuries in the squad. On the bench there was also the debutant Ralf Kuhn (b. 2003) and another youngster, Tudor Moțiu, started for the first time in League 2.

Politehnica had a great chance to score first in the 7th minute. But goalkeeper Eftimie was denied by both Ursu’s shot and Bîrnoi’s rebound from a few yards out. Then, in the 13th minute, Ciprian Rus opened the scoring with a shot to Harrison’s right. Benzar could have restored parity three minutes later, but his free-kick hit the left-hand post. The same Eftimie was also denied in the 27th minute by the same Benzar after an error by the hosts.

The second half didn’t go very spectacularly until the end. In the 88th minute, after Eftimie had saved Lazăr’s shot, Erik Gerbi scored for 1-1 from inside the box. But the game didn’t end like that and in the second minute of extra time, Copaci shot into the net from Rus’ cross to set the final score.

Politehnica remains in 14th place with seven points, while the hosts occupy the next spot with six points. The next game of the white-violet team will be next Saturday, at home, against Dacia Unirea Brăila.

Viitorul Pandurii Tg. Jiu: Eftimie – Buleică (captain), Core, Băican, Copaci – Vulpe (70, Vespe), Țegle, Felipe Acosta, Al. Dulca (74, Mitrică) – Dodoi (80, M. Doumbia), C. Rus. On the bench: Grecu – Ciul, Gheban, Sveikauskas, Gîrbiță, Brînzan. Coach: Eugen Trică

Politehnica Timișoara: Harrison – Moțiu, Bocșan (41, D. Andrei), Scutaru (captain), Oanea – Lazăr, Ignea – Sofran, Benzar, Bîrnoi (79, Zaluschi) – Ursu (70, Gerbi). On the bench: Murariu – Minteuan, S. Costea, Prodan, Kuhn. Coach: Dorin Toma

“A draw was much fairer and after the phases we had in the first minutes, the goalkeeper defended, we had the bar, we had two-on-one action, Benzar with Ursu. We came back into the game at the end, we managed to equalise, but unfortunately we can’t get past that fateful minute… 90-92, whatever you want to call it. That’s the third time we’ve unfortunately lost points on the last play. It’s lack of concentration. I don’t know what we can do to get through this moment. We’ve got one more game before the championship is over. We’ll see how we manage things like this, because it’s a shame about the work of the players, about the waste of energy we’ve made this week as well. With the game in Slobozia, a long trip, qualification for the Cup, and today the same players worked until the 92nd minute and unfortunately we didn’t get anything“, said Dorin Toma, Politehnica’s head coach.