Politehnica Timisoara was beaten 1-2 (0-2) by Minaur Baia Mare in the semi-final round of the League 2 promotion play-off. In a packed “Electrica” stadium, the white-violets found themselves trailing after a penalty goal and a deflected free-kick in the last phase of the first half. Our only goal came from David Ciurel, late in the second half, after the visitors were reduced to a numerical inferiority after Fofana’s dismissal.

The small stadium near the Green Forest was packed for the most important match of the season so far. Unfortunately the first half was not very spectacular on the pitch. Istratie had the first notable chance in the 22nd minute, when he got second to the ball after an excellent pass from Popa, goalkeeper Breban managing to get ahead. Ten minutes later Stănescu threatened with a shot that ended up in the side netting.

Although they were not very dangerous, Baia Mare were awarded a penalty in the 41st minute after Stănescu’s shot from outside the box hit Vlaicu’s arm. The same Raphael Stnescu opened the scoring from the penalty spot with a shot to Mosoarcă’s right. Five minutes later, at the end of the extra minute, after a free kick from the side, near the box, Donca sent the ball down and the slightly deflected ball fooled our goalkeeper.

Poli returned from the dressing room with a different aplomb. And the game livened up even more at the visitors’ goal after Fofana saw his second yellow card for a foul in the 71st minute and was sent off. If Avramescu’s deflection (82nd minute) had been off target. David Ciurel, on the stroke of half-time, was on target again in the 86th minute from a 16-yard free kick. Despite the pressure in the end it ended 1-2 and the double leg moves to the home ground.

The second leg is scheduled for Saturday, May 24, at 17.30.

Politehnica Timișoara: Mosoarcă – Miclăuș (83, Nagy), D. Roșu (83, Amariei), Vlaicu, R. Ciurel – Pureca, Rotariu – Prună (69, Militaru), D. Popa (69, Avramescu), Marincu (captain, 60, D. Ciurel) – Istratie. On the bench: Enășescu – Huminic, Tătaru, M. Lazăr. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

Minaur Baia Mare: Breban – I. Albu, Mondragon (59, A. Stan), Camara, D. Mureșan – Donca (captain), Fofana – Suciu (69, Buhai), R. Stănescu, Vitan (83, S. Ciocan) – Yolou Guigui (69, Ciubăncan). On the bench: R. Dumitru – Șofroni, Chitaș, Batin, D. Simion. Coach: Constantin Schumacher.

“Overall it was a balanced game, I think only the two set-phases made the difference in today’s game. We could also have offered more on the finishing phase and we could have been clearer in the finishing phase. We met a good opponent, who wants promotion, just like us. But I think that’s not the reality on the pitch today. I think a draw would have been conclusive, because in the end we conceded two goals from two set-pieces and I don’t think the opposition created any more great chances to score. They have a good, homogenous, consistent team, but our boys have played at a very good level and I congratulate them on that. We still have one more game to play in Baia Mare and we will certainly be better than we are now.

We also played well in the first half. We had control of the ball, we had good situations, apart from the two set-phases we played well in the first half. But in the second half, we came maybe even better, we changed players who brought a plus, as a proof we also scored and at the end of the game we had some situations that maybe we could have managed differently and maybe we could have put another goal on the scoreboard“, said Cristian Gălan, Politehnicii’s head coach.

On the introduction of Amariei in attack: “We needed to get as many players as possible towards the box, to have consistency in taking the ball into the box from the wide area and we tried with him as a striker because even in training he has many moments where he goes and plays attacking at times when we have games on a reduced pitch.”