Politehnica Timisoara was defeated after 11 games in a row without defeat in League 3, a series that also included ten wins. The Alb-violeoli lost 0-2 in the fifth round of the play-off, on the second-placed Minerul Lupeni. At half-time the score was 0-0 and at the end of the first half David Ciurel, from our team, was penalized with the second warning and therefore eliminated. The hosts opened the scoring from a penalty kick at the start of the second half.

In the ninth minute David Ciurel and Radu Ciurel saw yellow cards at the same phase, the first for a foul, the second for protests. The first dangerous action of the match belonged to Istratie (13th minute), back in the first 11 after injury, but his deflection from near the short corner failed to put the ball in the net. Four minutes later Mosoarcă saved June’s free-kick. In the 39th minute David Ciurel is excellently released and jumps the ball over the goalkeeper Raț, makes contact with him and falls, while the ball was cleared from in front of goal for a corner. Referee Eduard Ioniță, from Tulcea, indicated only a corner kick for our team. Just two minutes later, David Ciurel is penalized for an alleged no-ball in a clash with Toma and leaves the pitch after seeing his second yellow card!

At half-time Poli, with nine field players, had to change tactics. In the 53rd minute Toma broke into the box and fell in a duel with Vlaicu. A penalty is awarded and Alexandru Popescu converts from the penalty spot with a shot to Mosoarcă’s right for 1-0 in favor of Miner. Hunedoren’s lead was increased in the 71st minute, after a deflected header by Eshun, Baidoo scored with a rebound under the bar for 2-0. In the 80th minute Marincu was fouled 17 meters out, in a central position, he too shot from the edge of the box, but Raț was on the post near the bar to his left. Five minutes later, Vlaicu was booked for a kick in the face by the same Baidoo, who had already had a caution, but play resumed without another booking. The last notable actions had in the foreground Militaru (89 mins) shooting from the short corner and Miclăuș, with a header at the end, but wide of the goal.

After this defeat Poli remain in first place with 44 points, while second-placed Minerul Lupeni now have 41 points. Earlier, in the other game of this play-off round it was Progresul Pecica – CSC Ghiroda 2-2. The result leaves the Timisoara side in 3rd place with 36 points, while the team from Aarab is in 4th with 35 points.

Three home games in a row follow for the white-violets, the first one in eight days with Progresul Pecica.

Minerul Lupeni: Raț – Toma, Vlad, Dulap, Doboș – June (81, Marinca), Creciunesc (captain), Bedea (25, Baidoo), Petea (87, Prem), Eshun – Popescu (81, Trancă). On the bench: Drîngă, Tonca – Ciucurescu, Hârsan. Coach: Aurel Moldovan.

Politehnica Timișoara: Mosoarcă – Nagy (79, Miclăuș), D. Roșu, Vlaicu, R. Ciurel (46, Amariei) – Pureca, Rotariu – Prună (63, Militaru), Popa (captain; 46, Marincu), D. Ciurel – Istratie (63, Boariu) – On the bench: Enășescu – Huminic, Tătaru, Avramescu. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

“There is no problem, we continue to play, because we are in a good position in the standings. Nobody expected us to be there and then for us the next game is very important. To consolidate our leading position.

The changes were all tactical. We tried to stay as attacking as we could, we tried to put pressure on the opponent even though we were outnumbered.

The guys have worked very hard, including in this game, throughout the championship. I don’t think anyone can be angry with them or their performance, because every time they have shown spirit, determination, absolutely everything that is part of that attitude. Our supporters are wonderful, I have said it a million times over the last few years. There is no point in repeating it. They are fantastic. The home supporters, at the end, when our team left the pitch, they applauded them. It’s a rare thing in Romanian football. I really want to thank them. They also appreciated the boys’ performance. Naturally, during the game, everyone sticks with his team and does everything in their power to prevent the opposing team from scoring or concentrating on the game. And then they’re a rowdy crowd that does that. In the end everyone was fine, it is after all the game of football and should be treated as such.

I want to wish all our supporters and beyond, happy holidays! May they have a happy Easter with their families and see you back at the stadium!“, said Cristian Gălan, head coach of Politehnicii Timisoara.

Around 300 supporters had Poli on this trip.

“I don’t want to talk about the refereeing. It decided the game for us: we conceded a goal from a penalty and a penalty corner… I don’t know what happened because I was looking for the ball… the goalkeeper was going to put the ball back in. And I didn’t see what happened,” said Cristian Gălan, referring to David Ciurel’s dismissal.

Photo: Sorin Troncotă