Politehnica drew today on “Știința” in the test against Jiul Petroșani, scoring 1-1 (0-0). Both goals were scored at the end. For our team Ionuț Bătănași equalized in the extra time of the match played on a very high heat.

The white-violet did not count on Răzvan Milea and Daniel Benzar, who were both injured. Otherwise, coach Bogdan Andone tested Aymar Kevin Meleke (born 1999, from SO Armée, Ivory Coast) and Sasha Agiveli (b. 2003, Farul), both offensive players.

Our team had the initiative from the first minutes and in the 2nd minute Mudrazija, with a header over the goal, signed the first notable opportunity. Pureca (6th minute) also sent a shot just wide. And in the 10th minute Bîrnoi failed to reach a rebounded ball properly at the second bar and sent it wide of the goalkeeper’s left post. At the other end, Mareș (30) sent a free-kick just over the crossbar. And by half-time Plantak and the same Pureca (35 and 45) tried their shots without success.

On the restart, Mudrazija (57) failed to find the best solution from an angle, alone with the goalkeeper, and from the resulting corner A. Meleke headed over. Towards the end, the guests had a couple of dangerous counter-attacks amid more pressure on their own goal. First Murariu (73) denied Matei, before Daina (87) managed to beat our goalkeeper after escaping towards the goal with an easy cross-shot from the right side. Immediately Ignea (88) could have equalised with a header, but he still sent it wide. In the end it ended 1-1 after a free kick by Ionuț Bătănași (90+2) close to the left corner of Ji’s goalkeeper.

POLITEHNICA (coach Bogdan Andone): Isvoranu (57, Murariu) – D. Radu (46, Jurj), Tsvetkov (64, Bakos), Germinio (64, Moțiu), Taub (57, Oanea), Plantak (64, M. Andone), Bîrnoi (57, Meleke), Pană (57, Agiveli), Pureca (46, Ignea), Zaluschi (46, Gologan), Mudrazija (64, Bătănași). On the bench: Balica – Olariu, Țurcaș.

Jiul Petroșani (coach George Zima): Mureșan – Matei, Botoroagă, Moise, Cocina, Torkos, Caralicea, Mareș, R. Sandu, Goilean, Dănăilă. The following were also present: Tomescu, Marcu – Keszeg, R. Stoicoiu, Mazilu, Jurcuț, L. Pop, Istrate, Fage, Daina, Lovas, Turcu, Joseph.

“You could see the fatigue, maybe also the load, practically for three weeks we haven’t had a day off. The boys haven’t had any time off. The intensity of training over the last few days, it’s normal from one point of view, but to be honest I expected a lot more from them. We had a good first half, with some good situations, but unfortunately when it came to finishing we didn’t have the clarity, maybe the quality, the determination, and we didn’t score. I also warned them, at half-time, about counter-attacks, because that’s what happens, when you have a lot of possession and you try to get the ball to the opponent’s goal as much as possible, it’s possible to be discovered on the counter-attack. Unfortunately we conceded a goal and our guests today created another very good chance to score. So we are still far from how we should look and we will need maybe two or three games, four, in the regular season to adjust, to get to a good rhythm and what we should be playing,” said Bogdan Andone, head coach of Politehnica.

“It was a great joy for these wonderful children. They’ve only been with me for two weeks, we even brought some new players and we started at 5am to get to game time. I’m proud of what they showed today, first and foremost in attitude. Of course we’re suffering in the build-up, in the relationships of the game. But what we showed today, against a strong League 2 team, at the end of training, they start the championship in two weeks, I’m happy with what they showed and I congratulate them. We had another friendly with the Under 19 juniors, but this was the first strong friendly and I’m glad we coped well. We came here with great thoughts. Certainly the financial power in the Valley is not very high, but the thoughts are big, at least to catch the play-off and we will not deviate from our path if we catch the 1-2 places, but I want us to be modest, to work very hard and to try with small steps and a lot of patience,” said George Zima, head coach of Jiului.

Our team’s next test will be next Saturday (30 July) at home against Aurul Brad (L3).