Politehnica Timisoara finished 2-2 (0-1) away to CSC Peciu Nou in the fifth round of League 3. The hosts led 2-0, but the white-violets took almost complete control in the second half and missed more chances, including goals scored by David Popa and Fabian Marincu. At the end of a tense duel, the hosts finished the game with two players less on the field.

The match started with a very strong wind, which the hosts took advantage of in the first half. In the 17th minute Marco Enciu headed into the far corner from a corner to score the only goal of the first half.

The second half was at Poli’s discretion in terms of play. Not five minutes after the restart Amariei, who had a formality to complete after Prună’s shot was wrongly ruled out, was pulled back by Enciu, who was also sent off for the spot-kick. Popa executed to the left of Traia, who guessed the intention, however, and pushed away for a corner, which remained fruitless but with Amariei intentionally stepping on his ankle. After good minutes of pressure on Traia’s goal, the hosts broke on the counter-attack and won a free-kick from a good position. Denis Bud scored to make it 2-0. The Light Blues never gave in and resumed their attacks. With 20 minutes to go Bud slipped on Istratie’s foot and saw his second yellow card. The pressure was mounting on Traia’s goal, who was beaten first time from the box by David Popa (85th minute). No sooner had the game restarted than the ball reached the edge of the box to Fabian Marincu (86), who made it 2-2 with a shot close to the left-hand corner of the goalkeeper’s left-hand corner. After another two minutes the ball wandered in front of Traia’s goal, then met the bar to his right from Marincu’s shot.

It ended in a draw and Poli Timisoara totals six points after five rounds played, currently in 7th position. Round 6 follows, also with a trip away to Avântul Periam.

CSC Peciu Nou: Traia – A. Mada (46, Bobocea; 80, Gania), Nicolescu, Mera (captain), Ureche – Ignea (82, Hecsko), Ferțu – D. Bud, Făndel (80, Pamfile), Mura (60, Ciubotariu) – Enciu. On the bench: Lăpădat – Jorz, Sporin, Velici. Coach: Robert Frușa.

Politehnica Timișoara: Mosoarcă (72, Enășescu) – Miclăuș (78, Boariu), Amariei (72, D. Roșu), Vlaicu, Nagy – Pureca (63, Avramescu), I. L. Rotariu – Prună, D. Popa (cpt.), D. Ciurel (63, Marincu) – Istratie. On the bench: – T. Hus, Grancea, Roșca and Erceanu. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

“It was a game between two teams from the same county that will always look the same. It will never look any different. With a lot of close calls, cards, ambition from both sides. It ended 2-2, I think we deserved more. We tried to have a pretty consistent game. The guys tried to put the ball down considering the weather conditions and the very strong wind we tried to keep the ball down as much as possible. We did that most of the time. In the first half we created very few chances to score, I don’t know if we had one. But in the second half we had a lot more, as well as the missed penalty, we had the crossbar and other chances to score. But, all in all, I congratulate the boys because until the end they believed in our chance and even in the 90th minute we still had chances to score“,

Cristian Gălan, head coach Politehnica Timisoara