Politehnica Timisoara got a draw today in the difficult away game at Chiajna, in the 18th round of League 2. It was 0-0 with Concordia in a match in which our team played about 40 minutes with one man less after the elimination of Balsa Rogosic.

Cheered by several dozen fans in Ilfov, the white-violet started the game in the opponent’s field. The hosts then had more of the ball and threatened Păduraru’s goal for the first time in the 14th minute, when Dușmanu’s header was deflected over the crossbar. Politehnica’s first notable chance came in the 26th minute, following a free-kick from distance. But Ursu sent it over the target. Chiajna had a chance to open the scoring 12 minutes later when Llullaku sent a shot wide of the top corner after a low pass from the right. Our team’s reply came less than two minutes later when Doru Andrei’s good cross could not be cleared by Rogosic from the box. The last chance of the first half belonged to Ursu, who shot to the far corner from outside the box, but the ball went around Aldescu’s right-hand post.

The second half started with Rogosic’s header (46th minute) saved by Aldescu. Then the numerical balance was broken ten minutes after the restart when the Montenegrin striker saw his second yellow card after a duel with Codrea. The hosts pressed more, but the white-violet chances were not lacking. Ursu (58) failed to get on the end of a ball first picked up by Andrei on the edge of the box and the goalkeeper saved. “Zaluschi’s free-kick (75) was turned away for a corner. And from the resulting set-piece Lazăr came close to a header. Four minutes later, Andrei came close to opening the scoring with a cross-shot that skirted Aldescu’s left-hand post. At the other end, Chiajna were awarded a free-kick from a good position, but Roșu (73) sent wide. And ten minutes later Păduraru was denied by the goal, both by Taub and by the same Neluț Roșu’s header. Despite the pressure at the end and no less than six minutes of extra time shown from the sidelines, the white-violet defence responded to all challenges.

Following this white result our team accumulated 21 points and still occupies the 15th place, tied with Viitorul Pandurii (14th place). In the last round of the regular season Politehnica receives the visit of FC Hermannstadt.

Concordia Chiajna: Aldescu – Borța, Palmeș, B. Manole (4, Ad. Voicu; 77, Batin), Taub – B. Barbu, D. Codrea, N. Roșu (captain) – Dușmanu (77, Mirică), Sokovic (46, Plazonja), Llullaku (59, N. Pîrvulescu). On the bench: D. Moldovan – Cherecheș, Ct. Alex, Casap. Coach: Ianis Zicu.

POLITEHNICA: Păduraru – D. Radu, Bocșan, Scutaru (captain), Pamfile (51, Vukoje) – D. Andrei (85, Sofran), Lazăr, Zaluschi (85, Iamandache), Oanea – Rogosic, Ursu (66, Sîntean). On the bench: Devenish-Meares – Gerbi, Huminic, D. Olariu, Plumbuitu. Coach: Nicolae Croitoru.

Photo: Digi Sport screenshot