Politehnica Timisoara won today in the second test of the Slovenj Gradec training camp. It was 2-1 against Slovenian second division NK Brinje Grosuplje. Daniel Benzar and Marin Mudrazija scored the goals for our team.

The score could have been opened in the second minute. Following a free kick, Moțiu headed in from the second bar, but goalkeeper Kisovec, who was on the line, saved the ball. NK Brinje scored instead in the first action, in the 5th minute, following a left-footed shot from in front of the box by Mahic.

Daniel Benzar, who came on during the first half, came close to equalising in the 36th and 40th minutes. First the ball went just wide of the target, then the goalkeeper saved a shot sent in easily from the side. In the end it was Benzar again (43rd minute) who made it 1-1 with a shot from outside the box to the goalkeeper’s right after initially receiving the ball from Tsvetkov.

In the second half, and amid changes in both sides, there were fewer important chances on goal. The Slovenian side could have scored within five minutes of the restart, but an NK Brinje player failed to shoot on goal from a good position. From the 77th minute the score became 2-1 for Politehnica. Marin Mudrazija managed to score in his first game in our team’s jersey with a header following Pană’s cross from a corner and also set the final score.

Politehnica (coach Bogdan Andone):

Murariu (51, Devenish-Meares) – Oanea (60, M. Andone), Moțiu (70, Gologan), Tsvetkov (65, Pureca), Jurj (60, Taub), Plantak (60, D. Radu), Zaluschi (46, Pană), Milea (60, Ignea), Bătănași (31, Benzar; 80, Bakoș), Bîrnoi (65, Olariu; 82, Țurcaș), Bordon* (46, Mudrazija).

On the bench: Isvoranu, Balica.

NK Brinje Grosuplje (coach Goran Markovic):

First 11: Kisovec – Pucihar, Abdic, Begus, Sparovec, Coralic, Dorniz, Klancnik, Ostojic, Mahic, Tomisic.

“It was a useful test, the team worked hard, made a great effort, meeting a very aggressive and better prepared team at the moment, because they start the championship earlier. It was a test from which we came away with good things and things that remain to be corrected. The attitude and work of the players is to be appreciated. And it’s to be appreciated that in the second half, especially after the 60th minute, when most of the players on the pitch, seven or eight players were Under 20, six or seven of them Under 18, from our own academy. It’s important to learn, to know what Politehnica means, to learn how to win and to have the right mentality”, Bogdan Andone, head coach of Politehnica Timisoara.

*Patrik Bordon (striker, 34 years old, last played for NK Dekani – L2 Slovenia), who is on trial with our team, also played for us in the first half.

Cristian Bocșan was absent, as he suffered an injury in the first game in Slovenia against Tabor Sezana (score 1-2). As a result he returned to the country for further investigations on his right knee.

Politehnica’s last training camp games will be on Sunday 17 July: against NK Fužinar Ravne at 11.00 and NK Triglav Kranj at 18.00 (both L2 Slovenia). Like today’s match, they will be played at the “Vinko Cajnko” stadium in Slovenj Gradec (the location of our training camp) and will also be broadcast live on Facebook.