Politehnica Timisoara was defeated, 1-2 (0-1), at Progresului Pecica, in the ninth round, the last of the play-off League 3, Series 9. The hosts scored early on in both halves and despite the comeback in the second half of the game, the defeat was not avoided. Dan Pureca scored the only goal.

Without the injured Istratie, the Light Blues started slowly. Olăroiu gave the first dangerous signal at Mosoarcă’s goal in the 3rd minute. Just four minutes later, Ekmekci took advantage of a deflection and pushed the ball into the net from close range. In the 12th minute Poli had their first big chance, from a poorly defended corner, Militaru’s shot found Rosu in the box, but he sent it into the block from just a few yards. The same Militaru (min. 28 deflected a low cross from the right wing wide of the goal. Avramescu (30) also failed to get a header into the net. While Ekmekci (34) could have increased the difference in favor of the hosts but shot over the goal from the box.

With no less than three changes at half-time, our team threw themselves into Burtic’s box. In the 49th minute Rotariu fell in a duel with Ekmekci for the ball, referee Florin Mazilu (from Satu Mare) let the game continue and the player from Arad scored the double after the ball came back to him from Mosoarcă’s initial block. The young policemen didn’t disarm and came back on the attack. If D. Ciurel’s header (53) and Rotariu’s shot from the box (57) were poor executions. Dan Pureca’s goal in the 64th minute could not be avoided, as he scored from an angle after a Vlaicu header. At the other goal, Mosoarcă saved Kyrychenko’s rebound (69), and in the end we came close to equalizing several times. In the 78th minute Radu Ciurel sent the ball low but in the goalkeeper’s direction from near the bottom of the box at the end of a long attacking phase. Popa sent it just over the crossbar (80) and R. Ciurel headed just wide (87). Finally, in the penultimate minute of extra time it was David Ciurel’s turn in the penultimate minute of extra time when he couldn’t beat Burtic (90+4) from the box, slightly wide.

As a result of this defeat, Poli remained with 48 points and finished in second place in Series 9 of League 3, and will meet the winner of Series 10 – Minaur Baia Mare – in the semi-finals of the promotion play-off. The first duel will take place on Wednesday, May 21, at 18.00, at the “Electrica” stadium, the second leg is scheduled for Saturday, May 24. In the other semi-final between teams from the 9th and 10th series, CSM Olimpia Satu Mare and Minerul Lupeni will meet.

Progresul Pecica: Burtic – Halos, Nicolescu, Wild (captain), Aldan – D. Salka, L. Bodri – Călin, Ekmekci (72, Șimăndan), Olăroiu – Kyrychenko (84, S. Borcea). On the bench: M. Rus – Ristin, Morariu, Iurasciuc and Bozian. Coach: Dan Stupar.

Politehnica Timișoara: Mosoarcă – Nagy (59, Miclăuș), D. Roșu, Vlaicu, R. Ciurel – Pureca (captain), Rotariu – Prună (83, Amariei), Militaru (46, Popa), Boariu (46, Marincu) – Avramescu (46, D. Ciurel). On the bench: Enășescu – Tătaru, Huminic and M. Lazăr. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

“In the first half where we didn’t really exist, we came on the field with I don’t even know what to call it… we basically had no goal scoring situations, I think, in the first half. Our attitude was not one for football and I think they don’t realize at the moment where they are and who they are playing for. Because this is extremely important. We have a club that can give them fame, that represents an entire city, and that represents some great people in all the club organizations. From supporters to management to absolutely everything in the club. And we’re not able to go into a decisive half of a championship and put our heart and soul into it. And it’s sad.

We had no intention of cutting players. We started the game with the players that we were able to put in that could have carried a whole game, because the other players that came off the bench, the other players that came off the bench, are players coming off injuries, they didn’t train the week before the game or maybe they didn’t train enough or maybe they didn’t train enough and we couldn’t risk going in with them from the start and risk them getting a muscle tear or something and having them absent for the play-offs.

We play our first home game against Minaur Baia Mare, a very good team. We are in for an extraordinarily tough match. And if we don’t change our mindset and go in with the same mindset that we had today, I don’t think we will be able to do much. That’s why in the next few days we need everyone to be aware of what match we have and to put energy, passion and soul, because otherwise we can’t succeed!“, said Cristian Gălan, head coach of Politehnicii Timisoara.