Politehnica lost their home game against CS Concordia Chiajna in the 8th round of League 2. Ilfovenii won 4-1 (1-0) with goals from Taub (own goal), Mediop, E. Oancea and Vl. Mihalcea. Silviu Pană scored for our team from a penalty kick.

The white-violet didn’t start the game badly, being present with cursive actions in the opponent’s field in the first half hour, but the chances were wasted. First Alin Ignea (4th minute) headed just wide of Chudy’s left-hand corner following Mudrazija’s cross from the right flank. Eight minutes later the action was repeated, this time Ignea’s shot hit the crossbar and went wide. Bîrnoi (21) and Taub (30) had further chances from inside the box, again to no avail.

The score was opened in the 40th minute. Following a free-kick, Pațurcă got lucky with the ball in the box, sent it to the far corner for Mediop, but Taub scored into his own net in an attempt to stop the ball. This psychological moment weighed heavily in the subsequent course of the game.

The visitors scored again in the 58th minute after a big mistake. Newcomer Vlad Mihalcea retrieved the ball from Tsvetkov’s feet and fed Mediop, who could not miss from in front of goal. Six minutes later Politehnica had a chance to get back into the game. Zaluschi’s bouncing ball met Simion’s arm and a penalty was awarded. Silviu Pană made it 1-2 from the spot with a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, who had sensed the direction but could not parry the execution (64). Chiajna’s lead was restored just five minutes later, however, when the same Mihalcea fed another newcomer, Evgheni Oancea, who found himself free in the box and sent a low shot to Kucich’s left. The white-violet failed to connect the attacks and Concordia had another great chance through Mihalcea, whose shot went wide of the goal (77). The same did not happen in extra time, when after a combination with Llullaku, Vlad Mihalcea set the final score: 1-4, with an execution from the penalty area.

Following this result, Politehnica remains with only five points in 18th position. Next round our team plays away against CSA Steaua.

POLITEHNICA (coach Octavian Benga): Kucich – D. Radu (captain), Bocșan, Tsvetkov, Taub – Bîrnoi, Pureca, Pană, Oanea (75, Milea) – Mudrazija (61, Țangulea), Ignea (46, Zaluschi). On the bench: Murariu – Jurj, A. Mada, Bakos, Germinio and Plantak.

Concordia Chiajna (coach Eugen Trică): Chudy – R. Simion, Palmeș (captain), Stănică, Alexandrescu – Voicu (61, Llullaku), D. Codrea, Pațurcă (66, E. Oancea), Burcea (66, Ghimfuș) – Rusescu (53, Vl. Mihalcea), Mediop. On the bench: Chesneau – Maric, Catrina, Skytte and Mustacă.

“A bad start, I expected the team to react. We had a reaction when we started the game. From my point of view and I think everyone agrees with me. We totally controlled the first half, we clearly dominated Chiajna, with all due respect to them. I think we had seven or eight great opportunities, we even had a bar. We had situations from five or six yards out, we should have scored. Then, towards the end of the first half, came that gift, in fact three of Chiajna’s four goals were gifts from kids and juniors, meaning we gave them the ball and they scored. From our possession, bad choices. I wouldn’t want to name the player who got all three wrong. Unforced errors and Chiajna charged us, because it was also very easy from those positions to score. It’s a pity, because Chiajna didn’t surprise us, we knew how they play, we trained on that, the players played well in the first half, but you have to score and not give gifts… We managed to get into the 16-metre area so many times and we have no finish. Goal you can take at any time if you don’t score. I’m totally unhappy, I don’t think we deserved to lose after the number of chances, but football is played on goals and whoever makes a mistake loses. This is League 2. Sure, the players made a great effort, they did both phases, some players physically broke down, because the pitch was very hard… unfortunately those on the bench didn’t come up with anything extra. The solutions are very few, we try with what we have to score as many points as possible. I also said, it may be suicidal, but I assume this, someone had to come. That’s what I told the players and those around them: they have to have more courage! In a way I wanted to show that I have courage too. We have to try to collect as many points as possible before the winter. And from the winter onwards, together with the management, we can reorganise and save the team from relegation.”

Octavian Benga, head coach of Politehnica Timisoara