Politehnica Timisoara narrowly won 1-0 away to CS Timisul Șag and ended the regular season of League 3 in first position in Series 9. The only goal of the match in the 18th round was scored by David Ciurel in the 27th minute.

The game at Șag started with goal-scoring situations on both sides. The hosts had some good chances through Mediop, one before the goal, when he shot into the block from the box. Another following a pass from Zaluschi in front of goal. David Ciurel scored after a long throw in from David Rosu, he broke inside and beat Antonescu at the short corner. Basically in this match David played in place of the suspended Marincu. Six minutes before half-time Prună could have made it 2-0 for Poli, but his shot met the Timis goalkeeper’s right post.

On the restart the game was more on the counter after the rain picked up. Șagul could have equalized in the 63rd minute, but the ball sent in by the ex-white-violet Zaluschi met the crossbar. At the other goal, the same David Ciurel could have doubled the score, but the ball sent in from the box was deflected by Antonescu into the post on his left and then the ball went out for a corner that was unsuccessful. In the end Șagul benefited from several free kicks, which were also ineffective on the scoreboard of the cozy arena south of Timișoara.

After this result Poli has now 34 points and is followed in the play-off zone by Minerul Lupeni on 32 points (after a 3-1 extra-time win over Peciu Nou, with the away team finishing the game with three dismissals!), Progresul Pecica and CSC Ghiroda, both with 31 points each.

CS Timișul Șag: Antonescu – Malacu, Rosuș (73, Băluțoiu), Moțiu, Podină – Toader, Zaluschi (captain), R. Popa (77, Stoia) – Micșa, Mediop, Viașu (64, Chiorean). On the bench: Foris – Cătăniciu, Drăghici, Făgărășanu. Coach: Ciprian Urican.

Politehnica Timișoara: Mosoarcă – Nagy (73, Amariei), D. Roșu, Vlaicu, R. Ciurel – Rotariu, Pureca – Prună (84, Militaru), Popa (captain), D. Ciurel (84, Boariu) – Istratie (90+2, Moș) – On the bench: Enășescu – Miclăuș, Huminic, Tătaru, Avramescu. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

“We wanted this, I congratulate the guys for today’s game because more than the fact that we knew we were in for a very tough game, we had an incredibly tough game. I commend them wholeheartedly for the attitude they showed throughout the game. It might not have been our best game, but it was definitely one of the games that we put the most heart into. And it showed on the field, we got a win in the end. I congratulate the team from Șag for the way they played and I hope they will continue to play with the same dedication and attitude that they had today against us“, said Cristian Gălan, coach of Politehnicii Timișoara.

In today’s game, a junior from the 2009 generation – Ionuț Moș – made his debut for the first time for the Alb-viole team, one day before he turned 16! “I’m happy for Ionuț, this moment had to come for him. I’m glad that we managed to introduce him today, he will definitely keep working so that he can get more minutes“, said Cristi Gălan about his young striker.

Team program in the play-off:

Et.1: Poli – Ghiroda
2: Poli – Lupeni
3: Pecica – Poli
4: Ghiroda – Poli
5: Lupeni – Poli
6: Poli – Pecica
7: Poli – Ghiroda
8: Poli – Lupeni
9: Pecica – Poli