Failure, but in play-off: Concordia – Politehnica 2-0


Politehnica Timişoara got the play-off tickets with emotions. Although our team lost, score 0-2, at Concordia Chiajna, in the last stage of the regular season of League 2, the white-violets remained in the Top 6.

Our team could not bet on Chiajna on Ionuţ Cioinac, recently injured. Also, the suspended head coach Dan Alexa could not take a seat on the technical bench.

The home side’s came close to extending the lead 37 minutes into the game. His shot came in from the right hand side but Deac managed to save it with an unbelievable reaction stop.

The three changes from the break made in our team refreshed the game of the Polytechnic. Plazonja had two good chances to score in the 48th and 53rd minutes. First he was blocked, then goalkeeper Chesneau saved from the short corner. On the counterattack, the 63rd minute could bring a new goal for Concordia, but Ciucureanu’s execution bypassed the long corner. Entering the game, Axente could have equalized with 11 minutes left in regulation time, but his shot went past the goal. Moreover, the 90th minute brought the 2-0 success of Llullaku, who scored from close range.

Politehnica remained with only 32 points, but reaches the playoffs by the criterion of direct results with the other teams with the same score. The white-violets won the games with Viitorul Pandurii and Farul, ranking 6th, while another group with 32 points – Csikszereda – climbed to 5th.

On Monday, from 11 o’clock, the play-off and play-out schedule will be drawn.

Concordia Chiajna: Chesneau – Borţa, Manole, L. Ion, Cherecheş – Biceanu (cpt .; 89, Alexe), Rosado – M. Dumitru ** (68, Cocoş **), Deac (76, Llullaku), Ciucureanu * – Hergheligiu (89, Piper *). On the bench: Lungu – Oanea, Stănică *, R. Ivan *, Pintilie **. Coach: Claudiu Niculescu.

Politehnica Timişoara: Hindrich ** – Sofran *, Mera (captain), Scutaru, Pamfile (46, Manea; 78, Agents) – Codrea – D. Radu ** (46, Munteanu), Casado (46, Ivanovici), Ignea , S. Popovici – Plazonja (66, Radunovic). On the bench: Păduraru – Jurj *, Bocşan, Coadă. Coach: Antonio Foale.

* -U20 player; ** – U18 player

Photo: Sebastian Tătaru