Politehnica Timisoara got another important victory, the second in a row in the play-off, 1-0 (1-0) at Progresului Pecica. The only goal of the match was scored by David Ciurel, from Istratie’s pass after eight minutes of play. Tavi Mosoarcă saved a penalty kick in the second half!

In gorgeous spring weather near Mures, Poli started very well, scoring early. First, in the 6th minute, Militaru tested Zamfir from distance, and not three minutes later Istratie took an excellent move down the right side to near the bottom corner, from where he passed to the far corner to set up David Ciurel for a three-pointer. Politehnicii’s left winger had also scored the winner in the previous trip to Șag.

Pecica offered a strong reply after the goal and came close to equalizing in the 15th minute. Following an error the hosts’ goal was finished off by Șimăndan from the box, who only got the ball back only to send it wide. Progress then won corners and set-pieces, but the result remained unchanged. Unfortunately, after a fall, our attacking midfielder Bogdan Istratie was unable to continue the game and was replaced in the 38th minute. Miclăuș (42 mins) threatened again before half-time with a shot that rounded the post to the keeper’s right.

After the restart, the same Șimăndan (53) headed over from the box. In the 56th minute, Kyrychenko passed the ball, then kicked David Roșu (who was left lying on the turf) with his high foot, the ball reached Artene and he won a penalty in a duel with Miclăuș. Fortunately, Arsene’s shot (56) from the penalty spot was saved by Octavian Mosoarcă (a similar feat to the one our goalkeeper did in Cermei). Poli could close the scores on the counterattack. First through Popa, with a shot over the goal. And in the 73rd minute, Marincu escapes down the left lane, prefers a pass to D. Ciurel, but he only reaches the ball on the end line. Further on the ball went to Prună, whose shot was pushed in front by Zamfir, to Rotariu, who sent the ball from close range, but the keeper was also on the end of it.

In the 79th minute Kyrychenko scored after a pass from the left, but the goal was disallowed for an offside position signaled in time to the player who had given the assist. Until the end both teams tried their luck from distance, without success, and Poli went home with all the points!

After this victory our team, C9 leaders and after three play-off rounds, has 41 points, Progresul remains in 4th with 31 points. UPDATE Minerul take 2nd place after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Ghirodei and now have 38 points, while the latter are 35 points back in 3rd.

Politehnicii’s next game will also be away to CSC Ghiroda and Giarmata Vii, in the fourth leg of the play-off of League 3, Series 9.

Progresul Pecica: Zamfir – Haloș (74, Wild), Iurasciuc, Nicolescu, Aldan – Șimăndan (61, Borcea), Morariu – M. Călin (88, Olăroiu), Arsene (61, Ekmekci), L. Bodri – Kyrychenko. Coach: Dan Stupar.

Politehnica Timișoara: Mosoarcă – Miclăuș (64, Nagy), D. Roșu, Vlaicu, R. Ciurel – Pureca, Militaru (64, Marincu) – Prună (86, Avramescu), Popa (captain), D. Ciurel (86, Boariu) – Istratie (38, Rotariu) – On the bench: Enășescu – Amariei, Huminic and Tătaru. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

“Very important and at the same time very very hard (n.r. the victory). As we predicted in the week before the game, that we will meet a very good opponent, it was also seen today on the field, because the team from Pecica dominated the game in many moments. We had to be very clear defensively so we couldn’t give them goal-scoring situations. I’m happy for our boys, because they worked enormously hard for this victory. We expected this game and in the end I’m very happy for them.

It didn’t come too early, it came at a very good moment, because Pecica started the game very well. After that it was a little bit more balanced, they dominated us again, we had moments of domination, but less. I think that it came at a very good moment, because we knew that we were going to have a very difficult match and maybe this gave us a little extra confidence to approach the rest of the match“, said Cristian Gălan, coach of Politehnicii Timisoara.

A very important moment of the game was the penalty kick defended by Octavian Mosoarcă. “Tavi did his job, we know what Tavi can do, maybe there are certain moments when he wants more from him, but we have to keep in mind that we are human and we all have mistakes at certain moments”, said Cristian Gălan.

David Ciurel, the only new addition to the first 11 from last game, also scored the only goal of Friday’s encounter. “I talk to them every week and I tell them that there is not a player who deserves to play and doesn’t. We’re happy that we have a lot of competition in a lot of positions, which gives us stability somewhat, it’s clear, it’s very difficult for those who don’t get into the first 11 to understand all the time the decisions they make, but so far we haven’t had any problems in that sense. And I’m happy for David (Ciurel), I’m happy for all the guys. Those who came in from the sidelines played just as well. What is important is that we have a very compact and homogeneous squad and we can change players at any time and, you see, the result is the same“, concluded the coach.