Politehnica Timisoara football team drew with FC Bihor in the 2nd round of the 3rd League play-off. The score was, once again, tied. Now 0-0, after in the two regular season games the scoreboard showed 1-1.

The early chances belonged to S. Jurj (6, Murariu denied under the crossbar), Chitaș (8, shot to the short corner) and Olariu (3, following a corner, sent over).

Poli were down to 10 men from the 17th minute onwards when junior stopper Vlaicu was sent off for a foul.

The hosts’ subsequent dominance came logically, but apart from a bar (23), big chances were lacking. In the second half, captain Bocșan sent a header over the crossbar (59). Chances for the hosts were wasted in the 72nd (Haloș rebound) and 79th (Ciocan, from a free kick).

Bărbuț, who had just been transferred the day before, made his debut for the white-violet team. He started as a right midfielder (the team was playing a 4-2-3-1 system today), but had to be changed in the 29th minute due to an injury.

Another debut, but only on the scoresheet in an official match, is that of Sfichi. Junior (b. 2007), full-back, Romanian born and raised in England (at the Eagles Academy in London, the football school of Gabriel Dumitru, the former player of the 90s, from FC Argeș, Rapid, Dinamo and Universitatea Craiova), he was on trial during the winter period, and was subsequently registered.

Marincu’s return to the field after injury.

At the end, the Timisoara players greeted their fans, as they do on all their trips.

Politehnica: Murariu – Haloș, Bocșan (c), Vlaicu, R. Ciurel – Pureca, Olariu (90+3, I. L. Rotariu) – Bărbuț (30, Istratie), Pamfile, Curescu (75, Marincu) – D. Popa. Reserves: Miklos – Roșu, D. Popa (75, Marincu). Ciurel, Adamcsik, Oprea, Sfichi. Coach: Paul Codrea.

FC Bihor: Pînzariu – C. Jurj, Preklet, Băican, Iovița (56, Gagyi) – R. Farcaș (c; 75, B. Vasile), Gunie (46, Gîdea) – Vînău, Moga (56, Ciocan), Chitaș (64, Tincău) – S. Jurj. Coach: Florin Farcaș.

Paul Codrea, coach of Politehnica Timisoara: