Politehnica Timisoara’s junior teams returned to official competitions with the start of the Elite League under the auspices of the Romanian Football Federation. On Saturday, in the first stage, we recorded a clear victory in the U19 and a categorical defeat in the U17, with the same score (4-0), in the away matches against LPS Banatul.

Elite League U19: LPS Banatul Timișoara – Politehnica Timișoara 0-4 (0-2)

Politehnica U19: Cuzmanovici – Amariei, Mada, Huminic, Bălănescu – Popovici, Bakos, Pureca – Kuhn, Zetu, Spulber. Also entered: Ursu, Șchiopu, Pușkaș, Butar and Porav. Coach: Sorin Brîndescu.

They scored: Bakos, Spulber, Butar, Amariei (penalty)

The white-violet team started the competition reserved for the high juniors (Under 19) with a good start, scoring a success on the field of the neighbouring LPS Banatul.

“It’s the first round of the championship, we have a tough championship ahead of us, with strong teams. We have long trips, next week we go to Brasov. There are three teams from Cluj, the ones from Miercurea Ciuc are national champions. We aim to teach football and grow players. And we have some players with potential, who, if they progress, we hope in a year or two, because most of them are born in 2004, (they have two more years of junior,) to make the step to the first team. This is our only objective! Of course, if we train and learn the game, everyone progresses, we can have a competitive team, but our goal is to increase the players’ value, so they can make the step to the big team”, said Sorin Brîndescu, head coach of Politehnica U19.

Elite League U17: LPS Banatul Timisoara – Politehnica Timisoara 4-0 (2-0)

Politehnica U17: Urdeș – Manea, Duțu, Chițu, Cotu, Marincu, Avramescu, Pop, Oprea, P. Paleacu, Archindeanu. The following came on: Oros – Popeci, Chirilă, Balaci and Tihulcă. Coach: Alin Paleacu.

The hosts opened the scoring very early and then took advantage of the mistakes of our young players. Banat deservedly won, having also a promising “Under 17” generation.

In the next round, both Politehnica U19 and the under 17 juniors will travel to Brasov for matches against similar teams from ACS Kids Tâmpa. The senior juniors are scheduled for Saturday, August 28, at 10.00 am, while the white-violet U17s start their game on the same day, but at 2.00 pm.

Elite League U16: LPS Satu Mare – Politehnica Timișoara … cancelled

Politehnica U16 was supposed to start the championship in the north-west of the country on Saturday, at 10.00 am, on the field of Satu Mare. Our team was already on the way to the match when they found out that the match will not be played for reasons not related to our club.

The next stage of the season, Cristi Gălan’s boys will receive the visit of CFR 1907 Cluj, a game scheduled for Saturday, August 28, at 10.00 am.

The format of the Elite League this season is 11 rounds (one round of the regular season). Then follows the second phase of the season, play-off for the top six and play-out for the bottom six. The top two finishers in the U19 and U17 play-offs (two West/East series each) qualify for the semi-final tournaments, while in the U16 category the winners of the four series advance to the semi-finals.