The white-violet keep only theoretical chances to leave the 5th position in group A of the play-out after today’s failure. Politehnica was defeated by CSC 1599 Șelimbăr, 1-2 (0-2), at the “Știința” arena in the fourth round.

The game started virtually 0-1 as Alexandru Ciocâlteu opened the scoring at the end of the first minute with a long-range shot near Harrison’s left-hand post. Three minutes later Yameogo sent a dangerous shot from the penalty area, but over the goal. Then our team had a chance to equalise from Ursu’s free-kick (9th minute), but the ball was deflected for a corner. The half ended with Alexandru Curtean scoring the 0-2 goal with a header from a corner kick.

At the restart Politehnica almost completely dominated the game. In the 67th minute, Nicolae Sofran sent in the crossbar from outside the box. Then Doru Andrei (79) reduced the deficit with the help of Gal’s right crossbar. The white-violet pressed at least for an equaliser at the end, but could not find the right solution despite a succession of corner kicks until the end of extra time.

So, Politehnica Timisoara remained on the play-off place with 24 points, six points behind Politehnica Iasi. In the next round our team plays away against Dacia Unirea Brăila.

POLITEHNICA: Devenish-Meares – Sofran, Mera (captain), Bocșan, Pamfile – D. Radu (46, Gerbi), Ignea (64, Zaluschi; 82, Sîntean), Lazăr, D. Andrei – Ursu, Rogosic (77, Bîrnoi). On the bench: Murariu – Oanea, Plumbuitu, Huminic, Bakos. Coach: Nicolae Croitoru.

CSC 1599 Șelimbăr: R. Gal – Monea (captain), Telcean, Natea (68, Vișa), Arhirii – Cărăruș, Curtean – Vecerdea (56, Al. Luca), Ciocâlteu (87, T. Suciu), Yameogo (87, Rotar) – Yazalde (87, Ad. Cîrstean). On the bench: A. Șerban – Mubele, Buzan, Tătar. Coach: Eugen Beza.

“We had a goal to win this game. It was very important to win it, unfortunately we didn’t even manage a draw. Which means the chances of avoiding the play-off place are almost nil. I think that’s the only thing that matters, the result, the rest, what happened on the pitch, how the game went, I think it doesn’t matter anymore. Unfortunately we started the game very badly, we started from 0-1, we had a pretty tough period until about halfway through the first half, then in the end we conceded another very easy goal and that’s pretty much how the history of the game was written. Of course, the results are the coach’s first and foremost, if the team didn’t manage to win, it means that we didn’t find the best means and methods to make them win (…) I also expressed my opinion at the press conference. We are the ones who are in debt and unfortunately we are still in debt“, said Nicolae Croitoru, Politehnica’s head coach.

In the second half, midfielder Adrian Zaluschi left the pitch injured not 20 minutes after coming on. “He came into the game well, he managed to order the game well, unfortunately it also looks like a pretty serious injury…“, said Croitoru.

“It’s painful that we didn’t manage to win. It’s painful that we didn’t find the best means to get close to victory. I think that was the most important thing, for us to show that we are doing the right thing and that we can impose ourselves on the field of play…“, added the blue-and-white coach.