The Politehnica Timisoara football team suffered its first defeat on home ground in this season’s League III. In the 10th round, the score against Minerul Lupeni was 0-1 (0-1).

The first half was one without great chances. Let’s note, however, the 26 (Istratie, blocked in the box) and 29 (Bedea, long-corner shot, over the goal, following a personal action). The only goal of the match was scored by Dulap, in the 31st minute, with a header that Enășescu failed to keep out.

In the second half, Poli woke up and started to put pressure. Amariei, who just today turned 21 and took the captain’s armband at half-time, had two shots, in the 55th minute (over, on a counter-attack) and 57th (wide). Rotariu (58, shot from outside the box, caught by the goalkeeper), Erceanu (61, shot-center boxed by the goalkeeper), Istratie (66, insists on a ball, gets in the face of the defender and sends it into the goalkeeper, and 10 minutes later narrowly missed the take) also missed the chance to equalize. The team from Valea Jiului, which was accompanied by a large crowd, replied with two chances in the 70th minute (from a corner), 81st (Baidoo’s shot saved by the goalkeeper) and 86th (Enășescu put the ball under the crossbar from a free kick).

The visitors had two men sent off (Creciunesc and Ciucurescu) in the 90+2 minutes.

In the event of a win, the White-White-Violets would have climbed to 4th place, the last play-off qualifier.

Politehnica: Enășescu – Amariei, D. Roșu, Vlaicu, Nagy (83, Hus) – I. L. Rotariu, Pureca (68, Avramescu) – Marincu (c) (46, Boariu), D. Popa (77, Grancea), Erceanu – Istratie. Reserves: Mosoarcă – Miclăuș, D. Roșca. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

In the standings, Poli remains in 6th place, with 13 points, and in the next round will play away against Progresul Pecica.

“We had a very poor first half and our guests scored on half a chance, I don’t even think it was a full chance. After that in the second half it wasn’t a very good game, but we created a couple of really great goal scoring situations. The away side had a free kick and that was it, that was the story of the game. We lost 1-0. It’s a pity for the games we had before because we had a great growth in our evolution, individually and as a group. And today, the first half, was totally disappointing. They are young and probably these fluctuations in form are due to youth. But they must understand that we have to fight much harder.

I told them in the dressing room, I’m telling them now, the attitude in the first half was not to our credit. That is the truth. We were always second to the ball, we weren’t combative enough, we weren’t determined. We knew the Lupeni team’s style of play and that’s basically how the first half was written. In the second half we came back from the dressing room better and it showed on the pitch with the chances we created.

People are probably upset, obviously any supporter is upset at the moment of a defeat. But these are the same players who have had good games. They are, they are fighting for the colors of this club and we have to support them, there’s nothing we can do!

Marincu has been feeling a bit feverish and cold since last night, but in the morning he said he was fine. However, I would have liked more responsibility from him, because the first half was not a good one for him and then at half-time he said he wanted to be changed, although he could have said so from the start of the game. I think that this is a responsibility that should be the player’s responsibility, the moment he takes the field and assumes this“, Cristian Gălan, Politehnica Timisoara head coach.