Our boys honoured the celebration of 100 years of Timisoara’s football. Politehnica won 2-0 (0-0) the last official match of the year, played in Giurgiu against AFC Astra, in the 16th round of League 2. The goals were scored by Ioan Mera and Erik Gerbi.

On a day of great celebration, the game in Giurgiu started with a huge opportunity for Poli. It could have been 1-0 to our team from the very first minute, when Gerbi passed to Zaluschi, the latter broke into the box, but his attempted shot flew past the goalpost to Moroz’s right. The hosts replied with a cutback from Dragoș Gheorghe, who broke inside from the right flank, but his attempted shot didn’t find the left-hand corner of Păduraru’s goal either.

The first half continued at a brisk pace and showed much improved build-up play from our team. Zaluschi tried again unsuccessfully from distance (min. 9), while eight minutes later Astra threatened through T. Giuroiu and the same Gheorghe, but “Pădure” was again at the post. Another huge chance for our team came in the 41st minute, when Gerbi recovered from T. Giuroiu’s legs, broke slightly sideways in front of Astra’s goal, but sent over the goal in a one-on-one position with the goalkeeper. And two minutes later Braila could have seen more than a “yellow” for a late tackle directly on D. Radu’s foot.

The second half even started with a good shot by Brăila, pushed over the crossbar by our goalkeeper. But the 52nd minute brought joy to the white-violet camp, dressed in black today. Zaluschi beat an excellent corner, Bocșan jumped and the ball remained in the box, from where Mera shot strongly, scoring with all the opposition of an astral positioned in front of the goal. It could have been 2-0 in the 58th minute, but Gerbi’s rebound from an angle wasn’t strong enough past the keeper, so a defender cleared the danger. The 61st minute brought a penalty for the hosts, Bocșan hooked Cl. Dragu, after a chance-bound through ball in the box. Captain Șerban executed to the left of Păduraru, but our goalkeeper saved with the bar! Then Gheorghe’s “free” (64) went wide and our team escaped another dangerous phase.

The game remained lively, above League 2 level, with chances at both goals. And in the 73rd minute, in an identical phase to the one from earlier, Gerbi found the lane this time, scoring with a low shot to the far corner from Ignea’s assist! 2-0 for Politehnica! The 89th minute brought another set-piece opportunity this time, but Ignea sent over the goal from a free-kick won by the newly-entered Hațegan. At the end coach Nicolae Croitoru introduced two youngsters from his own nursery, both born in 2004: Daniel Olariu and Ervin Bakoș. The latter made his senior debut on this occasion! In extra time Lazăr (90+4) was also close to 3-0, but Moroz was able to stop it. And the last action was by Dragu for the hosts, ending with a shot wide of the goal.

Politehnica Timișoara had a nice end of the year, as our team tied its third consecutive success in the championship on the Centenary and is now 14th with 20 points. The white-violet resume the League 2 championship next year at the end of February with a home match against Petrol.

AFC Astra: Moroz – G. Buliga, Stoian, T. Giuroiu, Y. Abdulfatai (81, Zaharia) – G. Șerban (76, Adeshina), Banu – Danciu (59, Dumirașcu), Brăila (59, I. Ilie), Dr. Gheorghe (captain) – Cl. Dragu. On the bench: M. Cotolan – D. Vasilescu, Al. Giuroiu, E. Umit. Coach: Florin Stîngă.

POLITEHNICA: Păduraru – Sofran, Mera (captain), Bocșan, Pamfile – D. Radu (64, D. Andrei), Ignea, Lazăr, Oanea (86, Hațegan) – Zaluschi (90+2, D. Olariu), Gerbi (90+2, Bakoș). On the bench: Murariu – Prodan, Huminic. Coach: Nicolae Croitoru.

*Spectators did not have access to this game