Politehnica Timisoara won dramatically in the 3rd round of the League 2 play-out, 2-1 at Unirii Slobozia, the leader of group A, and keeps alive their hopes of saving themselves from relegation.

In the first minute an unsynchronization in the hosts’ defense was almost speculated by the white-violets. That opportunity heralded the opening goal four minutes later when Denis Radu crossed ideally for Fabian Marincu, who was up in the centre of the box, and the Timisoara junior broke the ice in League 2 with a flick, easily to the right of Mario Contra, who could not stop the ball.

At 1-0 to Poli, the hosts went on the offensive. Afalna (min. 17), C-tin Toma (20) from a free kick, (followed by a dangerous corner, where the ball sent by Rus with his head was rejected by Murariu,) brought danger to our goal. Ten minutes before half-time Bocșan suffered a shoulder injury and had to leave the field. Towards the end of the half our team had the chance to score the second goal, but Bîrnoi’s shot (42) from an angle was rejected by the goalkeeper.

The second half was similar. Slobozia attacked more, Poli waited for the opportunity to counterattack. At the end, the pressure told, after a ball fell on Murariu’s bar in the 74th minute, the hosts found the breach in our defense, in the 90th minute, with a shot from 17 meters sent by Robert Silaghi. But the man of the match was to be the young Fabian Marincu, following a ball passed by Gavra, the midfielder born in 2005 shot directly into Contra’s left corner and set the final score: 2-1 for Politehnica Timișoara!

Paul Codrea’s white-violet team takes advantage of Metaloglobus’ misstep in Miercurea Ciuc, with the same score, and they are three points closer to the Bucharest team in the play-off position.

Unirea Slobozia: M. Contra – Dorobanțu (46, R. Silaghi), Dinu, Perju, C-tin Toma (captain, 84, B. Levy) – Ekollo (67, Prejmerean), Coadă, D. Bujor (63, Boțogan), Ibrian – Afalna, C. Rus (63, Golda). On the bench: Ciupercă – C. Bolohan, G. Lazăr, Mustacă. Coach: Enache Costea.

Politehnica Timișoara: Murariu – D. Radu, A. Vlaicu, Bocșan (38, Tiihonen), Taub, Oanea – Marincu, Târșa, T. Călin (51, Porumb), Bîrnoi (78, Gîdea) – Gavra (captain). On the bench: D. Moldovan – A. Mada, Țurcaș, M. Oprea. Coach: Paul Codrea.