The Politehnica Timisoara football team achieved a new victory in League III. In the 15th round, the score was 2-1 (1-0) against “red lantern” Avântul Periam.

A moment of silence in memory of Helmut Duckadam was held before kick-off. Then, the “Peluza Sud” offered one of the most beautiful choreographies in Romanian football in 2024: dedicated to the Revolution, with flags and songs.

Nagy has the first chance of the match in the 12th minute, but the opposing defense concedes a corner. Just two minutes later, David Popa opens the scoring with a shot from the right side of the box into the short corner. Poli put more and more pressure and the second goal was floating in the air. Istratie (29, shot barely saved by the goalkeeper), Marincu (31, volley saved by the goalkeeper), D. Popa (33, sent it in front of the goal, where a defender turned it for a corner), again D. Popa (37, from a free kick, low shot, near the bar, the goalkeeper turned it away in extremis) and again Marincu (40, shot caught by the goalkeeper). In the 43rd minute, Amariei sent it into the box, and D. Popa shot first time, just wide of the goal. In min. 45+1, D. Popa passes to Boariu, who is blocked by the goalkeeper. Only 1-0 at half-time, after an offensive performance by Cristi Gălan’s colts.

D. Popa (49, shot from outside the box, catches the goalkeeper) announces the score. This was achieved by the goalscorer Istratie, in the 55th minute, with a lightning shot from outside the box. Again Istratie escapes alone with the goalkeeper, but sends the ball millimetrically wide (67). D. Popa sends in another shot, which is saved (73). In the 78th minute, when the referee awards a penalty for a foul in the box to Ștefanciuc, and R. Trandu converts the spot-kick without any emotion. In the 89th minute, D. Popa, imperial today, violently hit the crossbar with a “bomb” from 25 m.

Politehnica Timișoara: Mosoarcă – Amariei), D. Roșu, Vlaicu, Nagy – Pureca, I. L. Rotariu – Marincu (c) (66, D. Ciurel), D. Popa, Boariu (90+3, M. Lazăr) – Istratie (90+3, Miclăuș) – Istratie (90+3, Miclăuș) – Reserves: Enășescu – Hus, D. Roșca, Mihăescu, Grancea, Avrămescu. Coach: Cristian Gălan.

In the standings, Poli move up to 4th place, the last play-off qualifier. Timisoara have 25 points, the same as Minerul Lupeni, and, according to the ROAF for the intermediate standings, the difference between them is based on goal difference: Poli have one goal more!

For Politehnica Timișoara it was the last match of the fall season.

“We are glad that we were able to give this victory to our supporters, because this week we also celebrated 103 years of Poli and then it was very important for us to give them an occasion to celebrate at the end of the week. Because during the week they celebrated 103 years. We had a good game until the 75-80th minute, in which we went behind, probably also because we wanted to defend the result, but we didn’t ask for it, but we closed up quite well until the penalty shootout. After that, it was a pretty scrappy game. Ugly at times.

The good thing is that we are creating more and more chances to score every game. Clear-cut situations. We had three or four one-on-one chances with the goalkeeper today. Some from angles, some right in the center of the goal, we even had a crossbar. They played very well on offense. Actually the first 80 minutes were very very good, then the opponent came on us with some long balls. All in all we played a good game

We’re staying in training, next week we have some tests, measurements and other things we have to do with them until the holiday break. And we’re still practicing. We don’t have to stay, because apart from David Popa, who is married with a child at home, the rest can work hard. Next week for sure,” said Cristian Gălan, head coach of Politehnicii.