The white-violet started the League 2 play-out with a resounding success. Politehnica Timișoara defeated Dunărea Călărași 3-0, with goals from Denis Radu, Rareș Lazăr and Octavian Ursu, and climbed to 4th place in Group A. It is also our team’s clearest win of the season.

The game on “Știința” was dominated, as expected, by Nicu Croitoru’s pupils. The first important chance of the match culminated in the opening score. In the 13th minute Ursu crossed excellently from the left side and Denis Radu scored with a header to the right of the goalkeeper, despite Costache’s opposition. This is the first official senior goal for the youngster who grew up with Poli and was born in 2003.

From the 31st minute the scoreboard was 2-0 for our team. Vukoje, in his first game as a starter, passed to Ursu, who provided another assist. This time for Rareș Lazăr, who also opened his “account” with a shot on the ground and also to the right of Costache. The first half ended with Ignea shooting over the goal from a good position.

The guests, with a very young line-up, which threatened only in the fixed phases, preferring otherwise to defend in an organized way, could still reduce the gap in the 54th minute. Then, following a corner, Calu headed the ball into the crossbar and it hit the right post of Păduraru. But the final score was set five minutes later when Ignea crossed after a cross for Tavi Ursu, whose header beat goalkeeper Costache for the third time in the match. By the end, the white-violet had good chances to score again, through the same Ignea (61st minute) and Rogosic (68th and 78th).

With these three points Politehnica climbed to the 4th position in Group A play-out, with 24 points, tied with CSC Șelimbăr (5th place, play-off). Next week there is a break in League 2 and the white-violet will honour the invitation to play the opening game of the new arena in Giulesti. The game against Rapid will take place on Saturday 26 March!

POLITEHNICA: Păduraru – Sofran, Bocșan, Scutaru (captain), Pamfile – D. Radu (83, Andrei), Lazăr (83, Iamandache), Ignea, Vukoje (76, Bîrnoi) – Gerbi (63, Rogosic), Ursu (76, Sîntean). On the bench: Devenish-Meares – Oanea, Plumbuitu and D. Olariu. Coach: Nicolae Croitoru.

Dunărea Călărași: Costache – M. Drăghici, Țenea (captain; 76, Condei), Leca, M. Lupu (87, Primaru) – Vultur (87, Tătaru), Calu – D. Grigore, Coleașă, Moise – Blidar. On the bench: I. Alexandru – R. Vasile. Coach: Marius Păun.

Photo (main): Leczki Jozsi (archive)

*On the occasion of this game our club continued its actions within the CAFE – Week of Action. Yesterday, some of our players visited the beneficiaries of the foundation “Pentru Voi”, who cheered us today from a mini-tribune on “Știința”. The blue and white also took to the pitch with the kids from ACS Ambassadors of Hope (pictured, below). These actions aim to bring young people with disabilities closer to sports arenas and support social inclusion.