Two days after the National Day and one day before the 101st anniversary of the foundation of the Politehnica Timisoara Sports Society, the white-violet team achieved a victory expected since the 1st stage!

The guests started settled in the opponent’s half. Csürös headed in, Isvoranu defended (min. 8). Stancic misses from the penalty area (13th min.). Seven minutes later, Poli give the first sign that they are not going to stay just “in the box”. Țvetkov shoots over from the edge of the box (20th minute). Pană also tries a long-range effort from close range, just over (28th minute). The opener comes in the 32nd minute. D. Radu intercepts a ball, sends it from the right in front of the goal and Bîrnoi hits it into the net! Poli misses the breakthrough in the 41st minute after a crowd in the box. A minute later, Bocșan sends a header wide. Another minute later, winger Celani, the latest post-mercato acquisition (along with another foreigner, Karatasios, both starters today), shoots from the box, the goalkeeper saves!

The same Celani has the first chance of the second half. In the 49th minute, he has a superb individual action finished with a shot from the penalty area, which is saved by the goalkeeper. Five minutes later it’s 2-0! D. Radu, the U20 international, the one with the decisive pass for the first goal, scores from the penalty area, in the long corner, on the ground, after an action by Ignea. In the 59th minute, the Harghitens reduce the gap through newcomer Jelena, following a scramble in the box. Poli are back on the attack. Bîrnoi hits the crossbar from the penalty area (69th minute). P. Popescu, a newcomer, escapes alone with the goalkeeper, but shoots wide of the goal (79th minute). In the 83rd minute, the bullet whistles past our ears: crossbar from a header from the penalty area. The 17-year-old junior Marincu makes his debut.

But that’s it, in the words of d’Artagnan, Michel Platini and Emmanuel Macron, les jeux sont faits! We won, brothers!

It was, first and foremost, a victory of tactics and dedication against an exceptionally well-organised opponent.

Together with the result Unirea Constanta – CSM Politehnica Iasi 1-2, Poli manages not to enter the winter break at the bottom of the standings. They climbed one position, they are on 19, with 12 points, the same as the team from Dobrogea-Ilfova, but with a better record. The other victory of the white-violet in this championship was against Unirii Constanța…

A superb early December weather thus put an end to an autumn season that we don’t want to see repeated ever again.

Polytechnic: Isvoranu – A. Mada, Bocșan (c), Karatasios, Taub – Țvetkov, Pană – D. Radu (90, Marincu), Ignea (70, P. Popescu), Bîrnoi (90+2, Oanea) – Celani. Reserves: Urdeș – Olariu, Milea, Tudoran, Bakoș, Benzar. Coach: Octavian Benga.

FK Csikszereda: Karacsony – Csiszer (46, Jelena), Kelemen, Nemanic, P. Pîrvulescu (64, Takacs) – Gal-Andrezly, Csürös, El-Sawy (46, M. Kovacs), L. Kovacs (79, Veres), Ivanovici (59, Schieb) – Stancic. Reserves: Moga – Panos, Bara, T. Suciu Coach: Laszlo Csaba.

Referee: Vl. Nagy (Măhăceni – Alba county)

The South Lawn gave an exceptional performance. The banners depicting Traian Lalescu, the legendary first rector of the Polytechnic School and founder of the Sports Society, as well as the one with the club’s first logo, that of 1928, with the tricolour flag, are worth mentioning:

Statements:
Octavian Benga, Politehnica coach:

Listen to audio here

No one from the visiting club wanted to comment after the game.