Politehnica Timisoara drew with Minerul Lupeni, 1-1 (1-0), in the eighth and penultimate round of the play-off League 3, Series 9. Sebastian Avramescu opened the scoring in the 77th minute, while the guests equalized in the last seconds through Baidoo. As a result, the white-violets remain in first place, two points ahead of the Hunedorean side ahead of the last round of the play-off.

With Boariu, D. Ciurel, Militaru and Popa injured, with only the latter present on the bench, Poli had the first notable chance of the game in the 6th minute, when Rotariu’s shot was deflected just wide of Raț’s left-hand corner. The first half was more of a midfield contest and ended with another great chance for Poli, with Rosu’s header going wide. Lupeniul had notable chances only through Popescu, from where a ball bounced just outside the frame of the goal early on.

The second half started with chances at both ends. Sebi Avramescu shot over the goal (min. 49), before Baidoo came close to a goal after a mistake in the defense. Pureca (68) also sent over the crossbar from distance, before Sebi Avramescu scored nine minutes later, diving to meet Radu Ciurel’s cross from near the end line. After the goal, Minerul pressed more. In the 81st minute, Toma’s long-range, grounded shot was pushed in front by Mosoarcă, but the Timisoara goalkeeper made amends by blocking Baidoo’s rebound on the ensuing play. Then, at the end of the four minutes of extra time, Toma crossed and from the middle of the box, on the edge of offside, Baidoo headed to the right of our goalkeeper. The final whistle was blown.

Poli have accumulated 48 points and are followed by Minerul Lupeni, ranked 2nd with 46 points. In the ninth round, the last before the semi-finals of the promotion play-off for promotion to League 2, our team travels to 4th-placed Progresul Pecica (Friday, May 16, 6pm).

Politehnica Timișoara: Mosoarcă – Nagy, D. Roșu, Vlaicu, R. Ciurel – Pureca, Rotariu – Prună, Avramescu (86. Miclăuș), Marincu (captain) – Istratie. On the bench: Enășescu – Amariei, Huminic, Tătaru, Fazekas, F. Roșu, Mihăescu, Popa. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

Minerul Lupeni: Raț – Toma, Vlad, Ciucurescu, Doboș – Marinca, Creciunesc (captain; 73, Bedea) – Petea (82, Pendrous), Baidoo, Eshun (82, Prem) – Al. Popescu. On the bench: Boison – Tabnore, Trancă, Hârșan. Technical director: Dan Voicu. Coach: Aurel Moldovan.

“We can also say that, because the opponent didn’t create any big scoring situations (editor’s note: points lost in the last phase). They had some action in front of goal, but they didn’t have any big scoring situations except for a long-range shot and a Tavi rejection. They had one other ball that we fumbled. I have such a mix of feelings, I’m happy for the boys that they fought from the first minute to the last minute, I’m sorry for the result, but their attitude was right for the game and I congratulate them on that. I’m sorry for the result, that’s all. Sebi scored, he played a good game, well done to him. Anyone who comes in from our squad on the pitch has to do their job. Sebi did his job today and I congratulate him,” said Politehnicii head coach Cristian Gălan.

“I don’t know if it’s a regret (editor’s note: not securing the first place) because we showed from the moment we entered the play-off and we had the play-off place secured, some of the players or most of them were a bit quiet so to say, and we had difficult games. Maybe the fact that we are still in the battle with Minerul Lupeni for first place keeps us ready at all times to do our maximum. And I think that’s one thing that gives us an advantage in the play-offs. We can’t get there and be relaxed.

We retreated a little bit, the opponent came over us with more long balls, crosses and so on and found a free player in the box. Probably a mistake on our part to manage the last phase basically, and we conceded. It can happen, but I would have liked them to be much more prepared for it, because we talk a lot about marking in the box when the opponent’s crosses and we have difficulties sometimes on this action of the opponent (…) We could have done more with all of us. Including me from the sidelines“, the coach of the White-White and Blue-Blue added.

“I don’t know if the point remains the main target in Pecica. We want to win in Pecica to finish first. I think the boys deserve it for the season they had. Very few people were giving us a chance to lead the championship for a long time, they richly deserve it for the way they fought in every game and that’s why we want to win in Pecica to stay in first place.

There would be a very good argument for that (1st place for home field advantage in the rematch). The semifinal rematch gives us the second game at home, which is a good thing. But all in all, no matter where or who we play, we will have to win or qualify in a double header with two teams. So we are ready to do that, we just have to see at game time which players we have to put on the pitch and which of them are best suited for such matches. We have to keep in mind that a play-off game has a much higher load than a normal championship game. That’s why they have to be ready!”, concluded Cristian Gălan.