July 23, 24, 25 & 26, 2021
Round 2 Fixtures
Friday July 23, 2021
Arges Pitesti 0-1 UTA Arad ( att : 1,000 )
CS Mioveni 0-2 Rapid Bucuresti ( att : 5,000 )
Saturday July 24, 2021
FC Voluntari 0-1 FC Botosani ( att : 500 )
Academica Clinceni 1-2 CFR Cluj ( att : 200 )
Sunday July 25, 2021
Farul Constanta 2-0 Gaz Metan Medias 1-0 ( att : 1,500 )
FCSB 4-1 Universitatea Craiova 1-0 ( att : 10,123 )
Sunday July 26, 2021
Chindia Targoviste 1-1 Sepsi OSK ( att : 600 )
U Craiova 1948 1-0 Dinamo Bucharest ( att : 10,500 )
The big game of week 2 saw an encounter between last season’s second and third, with FCSB laying down an important marker after their disappointing draw in week one at Botosani, with an emphatic victory over Universitatea Craiova in front of over 10,000 spectators. U Craiova had been far from convincing in their narrow win over Arges Pitesti, and this display reaffirmed that they look a long way off from being realistic title contenders.
FCSB took an early lead thanks to Morutan’s wonderful 25 yard left footed strike and a smart finish from Octovian Popescu made in 2-0 after 16 minutes. FCSB were rampant and a poor defensive mistake by Bancu gifted a third goal to Cordea. After Tanase added a slightly fortuitous fourth after 60 minutes a rout looked on the cards. However, Markovic scored a fine individual goal three minutes later and U Craiova were able to avoid any further embarrassment.
Rapid continued their impressive start with a 2-0 win at Mioveni in a battle between two of the promoted sides. An impressive 5,000 fans were in attendance, with a large contingent of travelling Rapid supporters, and Rapid look like they could be force to be reckoned with this season. In a game of few chances, Rapid, playing in a very tasteful white shirt with burgundy shorts, took the lead just before half-time through Grigore’s powerful header from a corner, and they doubled their lead 8 minutes after half time when Carnat unselfishly presented a simple finish for Balan.
Alongside Rapid, Cluj are the only other side with a 100% record following their 2-1 at Academica Clinceni, with an 87th winner from Latovlevci. Petrila had given Cluj the lead in the 60th minute with a sliding left footed finish at the back post but a needless challenge by Deac presented Academica with a penalty, which Argentine midfielder Bautista Cascini confidently converted. Ex-Botosani Argentine midfielder Rodriguez struck the post for Cluj, before Latovlevci was totally ignored by the home defence for a simple late tap-in at the far post. Academica remain pointless.
Sepsi moved to fourth place on 4 points with their draw at Chindia, being denied all three points by an 87th minute equaliser by Cherchez. Indeed the Sepsi defence were searching for the goalscorer, being given the freedom of Targoviste before choosing his spot ! North Macedonian midfielder Askovski had earlier given Sepsi the lead.
Farul also sit on 4 points after their 2-0 home win over Gaz Metan. Brazilian midfielder Romario was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card for a brutal body-check on Metan forward Gradinaru in the first half. The referee perhaps also favoured Farul in awarding a penalty to the home side in the 54th minute, deciding that there had been an elbow in the face and the Farul player certainly made the most of it. Spanish forward Jefte’s spot kick was emphatic, and Gheorghe Hagi’s side sealed the win with a second goal 9 minutes from time when GMM keeper Valceanu could only push Pitu’s shot into the path of Petre to side foot into the unguarded net.
Also on 4 points are Botosani, who overcame FC Voluntari in a game of few chances thanks to veteran Mihai Roman’s clever finish in the 70th minute, opening his body to side foot a pullback into the roof of the net.
UTA Arad are also in the
pack of sides on 4 points, after a 1-0 win at Arges Pitesti. Croatian
midfielder Filip Dangubic’s clever third minute back-heel with his back to the
goal being the difference between the two sides. Arges are still to score this season.
In the final game of the weekend, promoted U Craiova 1948 got their first points in the top flight with a 1-0 win over Dinamo Bucharest in front of the highest crowd of the round. U Craiova 1948 were deserved winners, missing a number of chances before taking a second half lead through Portuguese Hugo Viera’s diving header, although there was a suspicion of offside. For Dinamo, Moldoveanu had struck the bar with a long range effort.
European Competitions
In the Champions League, CFR Cluj should progress to the third qualifying round despite their unconvincing form. Having fallen behind to Lincoln Red Imps in Gibraltar they recovered to win 2-1, and should be able to comfortably see off the minnows in the second leg.
In the Europa Conference, Sepsi face a home tie against Slovak side Spartak Trnava after a 0-0 draw away from home. Universitatea Craiova will be looking to overturn a 0-1 deficit in their home leg against Albanians KF Laci, whilst FCSB travel to Kazakhstan to defend a 1-0 lead against Shakhter Karagandy.
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