Politehnica still has only theoretical chances to catch the play-off place. The string of two consecutive victories was interrupted by the home defeat, 0-1 against CSC Șelimbăr.

Paul Codrea started again with three “under” players and in the same 3-4-2-1 system used in Slobozia. Only Bocșan, injured, was replaced by Porumb.

The goal was scored by the captain of the guests, Radu Crișan, in the 16th minute. Following a corner, he headed home from the edge of the box. The team from Sibiu county showed their intentions from the 2nd minute, when Ad. Voicu hit the crossbar. And a minute before the goal, Porumb had taken Lumbu’s face off at another CSC chance.

In the second half, with Gîdea coming in for the junior Vlaicu, Poli switched to 4-4-2, with Marincu pushed alongside captain Gavra. Timisoara dominate, but fail to create important chances. Raul Țurcaș, who made his debut in the second division in autumn, in a match against Viitorul Tg. Jiu. Then Mario Oprea (b. 2005) is thrown into the fray, making his official debut for the senior team. Țurcaș, with two minutes to go, comes close to a fortunate header, but the ball trickles over the bar.

It ends 0-1, with the visiting players enjoying their mathematical salvation from relegation. And unnecessary tension at the end…

Poli is starting to develop a real “Selimbar complex”: they haven’t won any of their four games since autumn 2021 (1-1, 1-2, 0-4, 0-1)!!!

Polytechnic: Murariu – Vlaicu (46, Gîdea), Porumb, Taub – D. Radu, Târșa (78, Tiihonen), T. Călin, Oanea – Marincu (64, R. Țurcaș), Bîrnoi (78, M. Oprea) – Gavra (c) Reserves: D. Moldovan – E. Adam, A. Mada. Coach: Paul Codrea

CSC Șelimbăr: Mitrovic – Palmeș, R. Crișan (c), Lumbu, Fl. Mitrea – Monea (84, Natea), Al. Luca, Cărăruș, Ad. Voicu (54, N. Popescu) – Buzan, I. Năstăsie (90+1, D. Ursu) Reserves: Roșca – Vișa, Soare, Gliga, Arhirii, R. Răducioiu. Coach: Claudiu Niculescu

Statements by the two coaches:

Paul Codrea: “Unfortunately the defeat came, I honestly didn’t expect it, I expected it to be a tough game, with an organized team, with a team that plays quite simplistic, long balls. Unfortunately they are dangerous in set pieces, I knew it, that’s where we lost the game. We didn’t play a great game either, the first half especially. We were pretty static, we didn’t move enough. The second half we totally controlled. But no strength in attack. Of course our bench is not very valuable either, there are a lot of kids from the Academy, they have no experience, no strength, we can’t expect them to win the games. But, they moved, I think Mario Oprea, who started, started quite well. Țurcaș tried, that’s who we are, that’s who we’re going forward…

That’s what I thought, Marincu played very well in Slobozia, he moved well, he deserved to play, Gîdea came on at half-time, so he had plenty of time to play and he didn’t play badly either. The whole team didn’t work today because the game was such that we weren’t used to leading the game head-to-head, we were more used to playing on counters, reacting, even if we were trying to build, they let us build …too much, and it was quite hard to build, because they were defending overcrowded, stalling, giving long balls, carrying the ball into our half all the time, it was complicated. Lots of interruptions, we had no rhythm. We’re not making excuses, but we didn’t play the most brilliant game today.

Not necessarily that I hope so, but I hope for a good attitude from the team going forward. I also told them: we’re not giving up, we have two games left, we have to show up well, play well, improve what didn’t work today and see what happens.

I can’t afford to tell them, I congratulate them, it’s their style of play. Everyone plays as they want, as they see fit, they won the game.

We had a very good relationship, he congratulated me (n.r. – Cl. Niculescu) also for the way the team plays, that’s another compliment I give them and I’m happy… and we hope that from now on we will play as well, maybe even better. I said, our plan is long term, if we think only from today to tomorrow we won’t do anything in Timisoara. You have to give us time and we’ll build something sustainable, you’ll see!

Claudiu Niculescu: “Fortunately, that’s why we were happy at the end, because we found out the results of the other matches and we saved ourselves mathematically in today’s match. I’m very happy for the guys, they understood exactly what we have to do this spring after the not so good results when we started… we recovered. Now we have to focus on the remaining stages. We want to win them all because, I’ve said from the start of the play-out, I don’t want to think about relegation or the play-off, but about winning the play-out. Now we have to enjoy ourselves, go home and celebrate Easter with everyone, see you next week happy and healthy.

I understand that one of our players made a gesture… on the supporters, it’s not normal, he will more than likely get a fine. There were no problems during the match, they cheered their favourites. I was used to it as a player, when I used to come here and play in the big stadium, Dan Paltinisanu, the stadium was full and the atmosphere was sensational… (Here) sad, I know the weather was sad too, but sad sad, Timișoara has beautiful supporters, that’s why I want to repeat what I wanted to say: I was used to coming to play on Dan Păltinișanu, with 40,000 in the stands, with choreography… It’s a pity that traditional teams, like Poli Timișoara, have been struggling in mediocrity like this for years. I’m sorry that Poli practically relegated today, I think, I don’t know, I think they’re mostly relegated, not mathematically… I’m sorry, but Poli didn’t relegate today, but during the whole season, that’s clear. Paulică, I call him that because we were colleagues, we played a year together at Genoa, a very nice year, it was a very nice goodbye… I was very happy to see him again. He’s done a very good job in these two rounds, until today’s game. He still gave everyone hope that the team can still be saved. But we came and did our job, because we had a very, very important goal for us, to stay mathematically in first place. Now, we will try with all our strength to win the play-out because, I repeat, that’s what I told the players since the play-out started and I think we can achieve this…”