The Blue and Whites won today, on the synthetic field of the Base No. 2, in the first training game of the new year. Politehnica defeated CSC Dumbrăvița (4th place in C8) 7-0 (2-0) with goals scored by Olariu, Ursu, Giosu, Iamandache and D. Andrei, the last two scoring a double.

The game started fast and the score was opened early, in the 9th minute, when Ignea’s corner was scored by Daniel Olariu with a shot from inside the box. Gerbi could have immediately increased the gap, but just hit the crossbar (11th minute) and the guests replied with Zurbagiu’s shot from outside the box, which Harrison saved in the corner. From the 26th minute the score became 2-0 following a move by Octavian Ursu, right-center on the direction of the opponent’s goal, finished with a dive over Trifon. This was to be the half-time score.

The second half was approached by our staff with a different line-up. Andrei Sîntean was close to a goal-scoring debut, but his 65th minute shot hit the bar to the left of the keeper. Other new names scored instead. With 20 minutes to go, Denis Giosu (born 2000, ex-Lumezzane, Louisiana), a defender who arrived in training with our team, made it 3-0 with a header from Doru Andrei’s free kick. Then, three minutes later, Alex Iamandache finished a simple cross from Vukoje’s cross from the ground, and three minutes later Doru got on the scoresheet with a personal effort past the goalkeeper. And from the 78th minute the score became 6-0, Iamandache “re-offending”, this time with a shot to the goalkeeper’s right. The final score, 7-0, was established by the same Doru Andrei (85), with a left-footed shot, after a phase triggered by Sîntean.

On Saturday, February 5, at 13.00, our team plays the second friendly of this period, on the field of CSM Reșița.

POLITEHNICA: Devenish-Meares (37, Păduraru) – Sofran, Bocșan, Scutaru, Pamfile – D. Radu, Olariu, Ignea, Erceanu – Ursu, Gerbi (first half); Păduraru (75, Cuzmanovici) – Plumbuitu, Moțiu, Giosu, Oanea – D. Andrei, Lazăr, Bakoș, Vukoje – Sîntean, Iamandache (second half). Coach: Nicolae Croitoru.

CSC Dumbravita: Trifon – L. Bodri, Bura-Kot, Vidican, Ghinescu – Zurbagiu, Schinteie – Tismonar, Martinov, Grigoriu – Făgărășanu. Reserves: Mikloș – Bain, Paunchici, Olaru and Ciubotariu. Coach: Cosmin Stan

“It was the first game, coming after three and a half weeks of training. It was important for us to have the right attitude, because we have very tough games ahead of us. The physical factor of course was also very important, and I think it was clear that everyone made an effort, and let’s try to apply in the game what we worked on in training, even if there are some things that don’t go very well. But that’s normal for this part of the preparation. I repeat, attitude was on the forefront, because I think that’s the starting point. For the most part we can say that (the batch) is finalised. It’s still possible that one player will appear… but for the most part it’s finalized,” said Nicolae Croitoru, Politehnica’s head coach.

“I think they’ve integrated pretty well, it’s a process that will take longer. There are players who adapt faster, there are players who need a longer period, but I think the choices are good”, the coach said in reference to the new players.

Rogosic, Bîrnoi, Mera and Zaluschi were absent from the game against CSC Dumbrăvița for medical reasons.