Politehnica Timisoara suffered its first defeat in the championship, in Sânmartin, against Lotus Băile Felix, 1-2 (0-1), in the third round of League 3. The Alb-violets got back on the scoreboard in the second half through Bogdan Istratie, but the hosts scored the decisive goal in extra time.

Cristi Gălan’s side made a brave start on a wet pitch after the rain, but David Ciurel (min. 2) shot from a good position on the left side, but Barabaș saved without any problems. The hosts’ first dangerous move came nine minutes later when Duma was blocked in extremis by Radu Ciurel.

Marincu (19) had another good chance for Poli, but his shot was denied in the corner under the bar by the same Barabaș. Lotus opened the scoring in the 27th minute when Tămaș escaped towards Mosoarcă’s goal and scored with a shot from the box to the keeper’s right. The same Marincu (38) sent in a free kick, but the ball was deflected into the goalkeeper’s arms and four minutes later Duma, from the white-violets’ box, shot well over the goal. The half ended with D. Popa’s inaccurate shot (45+2).

The second half started with a fruitless pressing of the Bihoren. Our team then took control of the game, but Rotariu’s shot was in the goalkeeper’s direction in the 56th minute, and four minutes later Negru tried a scissor from inside the box. The equalizer came in the 65th minute as Miclăuș’ cross connected with Istratie’s header, the ball hitting the bar to Barabaș’ left before going in. At 1-1, the Whites continued to attack but to no avail. The end would belong to Băile Felix. In the 89th minute, Blăgea sent wide from a free-kick from a good position in front of goal. And in the third minute of extra time, he crossed well for Oltean at the long corner and he beat the Politehnicii goalkeeper with a header from close range. Immediately after the restart Grancea was not far away from equalizing, but his shot from the short corner was denied for a corner. On the counter-attack in the penultimate minute Blăgea was blocked by Mosoarcă.

Following this result Poli remains with two points in the standings and will play at home in the next round, the 4th of League 3, Series 9, against Gloria Lunca-Teuz Cermei (Saturday, September 21, from 17.00).

CS Lotus Băile Felix: Barabaș – D. Sala, D. Ghiță, S. Oltean, Arsene (captain) – M. Negru (90+4, I. Bere), Gheban (73, Paublusztig), Ciurcui, Chindlea – Tămaș (90+4, Urbanowski), D. Duma (78, Blăgea). On the bench: Cosma – Bochiș, An. Popa, Știubea, Chenceanu. Coach: Cosmin Bodea.

Politehnica Timișoara: Mosoarcă – Miclăuș, A. Vlaicu, R. Ciurel (75, Amariei), Nagy – I. L. Rotariu (90+2, Grancea), Pureca, D. Popa – Marincu (cpt.; 81, Avramescu), Istratie (81, Prună), D. Ciurel. On the bench: Enășescu – D. Roșu, T. Hus, Boariu, D. Roșca. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

“As I was saying before the game: details will probably make the difference. And, once again, we make mistakes in the first half and concede goals. These are mistakes we make regularly and we are still not learning from it. We conceded the goal, then we came back, at half-time we changed something in our construction, in our play, to see what we can bring more for the second half. We managed to score, exactly what we set out to do at half-time, but then in the second half, in extra time, we were careless, again careless, because I can’t call it anything else. When you have a corner, you reject the ball well, then you don’t look around you, another carelessness – we concede a goal. That’s the way it was, there’s nothing we can do about it. I only told the referees that the game was stopped for a misunderstanding on their part about the number on a player’s shirt and the card given and he stayed the game long enough and blew the whistle just after that action had ended. Although the game did stay pretty long. I only criticized that I think he could have let the game continue at least as long as they were talking to each other, what was going on with the number on the player’s jersey…”, said Cristian Gălan, Politehnicii’s head coach.

Radu Ciurel replaced after serious injury
In the 75th minute Radu Ciurel, Politehnicii’s defender, left the field injured and was replaced by Edi Amariei. “Radu’s injury is quite serious. He went to hospital, his ankle was very swollen, he probably has a more severe sprain,” Cristian Gălan said.

Photo: video capture (Facebook / Club Sportiv Lotus Băile Felix)