July 26, 27, 28 & 29, 2024
The season in Romania has progressed to its third week, with the league table having an unfamiliar look to it with FCSB and Farul Constanta in the bottom four, and CFR Cluj in mid-table.
Friday July 26, 2024
FC Hermannstadt 1-1 Unirea Slobozia ( att : 3,000 )
Newly promoted Unirea Slobozia retained their unbeaten record in their first ever season in the Romanian top flight, following their opening day win at 2022/23 champions Farul and then drawing at home with 2023/24 champions FCSB. They are now 5th in the table, whilst Hermandstadt remain winless and are now second from bottom but have played two home draws.
Hermannstadt made the early running and took the lead with 6 minutes on the clock. Ianis Stoica made a strong run down the left and his cross was only cleared as far as ex-Lazio midfielder Alessandro Murgia, unmarked edge of the area, who classily placed his effort into top corner.
In the 24th minute ex-FCSB attacking midfielder Stoica volleyed over from a corner. under pressure from Daniel Serbanica.
Croat Adnan Aganovic spurned a good chance for the visitors in the 25th minute, but after selling a dummy to Valerica Gaman he meekly sent the ball over the bar from 12 yards. However, the visitors equalised after 40 minutes via Ukrainian Dmytro Pospelov’s powerful leaping header from beyond the far post after a left-wing cross by Serbanica.
The second half was relatively uneventful with the main chances falling evenly between the two sides. For Hermannstadt, Murgia’s glancing header from a cross from Stoica went inches wide, whilst for Unirea, Cameroonian forward Christ Afalna’s 20 yard snapshot on the turn drifted narrowly wide.
With seven minutes remaining Unirea’s Constantin Toma’s curling free-kick was met with a side-footed effort beyond the far post but was saved by Hermannstadt keeper Cabuz.
FCSB 0-2 Otelul Galati ( att :4,754 )
The surprise result of the weekend saw champions FCSB slip up at home to Otelul. FSCB are now without a win in three matches, whilst Otelul are unbeaten and now second in the table on goal difference. The coach of Otelul is Dorinel Munteanu, who won 134 caps and scored Romania’s second goal in their 3-2 win over England in Charleroi in Euro 2000, a game which was watched by Fatbear.
FCSB started impressively and in the 11th minute David Miculescu, although forced out wide, managed to get a shot across goal, which was pushed wide by keeper Iustin Popescu for a corner.
With 19 minutes played, Brazilian Luis Phelipe had a shot from 12 yards out saved, but with an empty net in front of him, Miculescu put the rebound against the post with a casual side foot.
Two minutes later Luis Phelipe shot from the edge of area, but his effort was tipped over bar, then just before half-time Ghanaian midfielder Baba Alhassan drilled a 20 yard shot just wide.
The visitors took the lead against the run of play a minute before the break when ex-Tottenham and Napoli centre-back Vlad Chiriches ( 75 caps ) carelessly gave away possession, allowing Italian Juri Cisotti to run unopposed at the heart of FSCB defence to shot home left footed from 20 yards. Although Chiriches would get most of the blame for his mistake, it was also awful defending by the rest of the FSCB defence to back away.
It should have been 0-2 a minute later when a low cross from Portuguese midfielder Joao Lameira was dummied by Cisotti, but Samuel Teles, another player from Portugal, sliding in at back post put the ball wide from 10 yards.
FCSB tried to hit back early in the second half, but a glancing header from Alexandru Baluta was well saved by Popescu.
Otelul effectively sealed their victory when Diego Zivulic showed good technique to fire home a spectacular 20 yard effort after a partial clearance had bounced to him. This goal took the Croatian play-maker to three goals for the season, and top of the golden boot table.
With just under ten minutes remaining to be played Alhassan headed good chance wide from a corner, which just about summed up the evening for FCSB.
Saturday July, 27 2024
FC Politechnica Iasi 1-2 Gloria Buzau ( att : 3,877 )
Newly promoted Gloria Buzau chalked up their first victory of the season whilst Iasi suffered their second loss in three games.
Politechnica took the lead in slightly suspicious circumstances in the 28th minute. Alin Roman swung in a free kick to which Guatemalan centre-back Nicolas Samayoa ( 20 caps ) tried to get his head to but missed, although he did enough to deceive the keeper and the ball bounced into the far corner of the net. It looked offside but wasn’t given, presumably as Samoyoa made no contact despite interfering with play ?
In the fourth minute of first-half added time Politechnica then received another favourable decision from VAR. There didn’t appear to be anything untoward as Roman fired over from 20 yards. However, after a lengthy VAR review, a foul by French/Chechnya midfielder Rassambeck Akhmatov on North Macedonian defender Todor Todoroski ( 6 caps ) was awarded ! Unfortunately for the home side, Roman’s spot kick was unconvincing and saved by keeper Greab diving low to his right.
Politechnica were quickly made to pay for this miss as Gloria equalised in the 12th minute of added on time. Vlad Prejmerean mishit his shot from the edge of the area but Portuguese striker Ricardo Matas produced a spectacular overhead kick from 12 yards to level the scores.
Matas was on target again seven minutes into the second period. Dragos Tescan’s left footed shot from close range was not dealt with by keeper Ailenei, and Matos slid in to score from the rebound, prodding home at close range across goal ahead of defender Florin Ilie.
With the home side rocking, Gloria nearly extended their lead four minutes later, but Isfan’s left-footed shot across goal was cleared off the line by Samoyoa.
Politechnia rallied in the final ten minutes as they strove to save a point but Portuguese forward Goncalo Teixeira blazed wide after a knock down from a corner, and in injury time Croatian midfielder Robert Miskovic sent a bouncing ball just over the bar from 20 yards. However, Gloria held on for an important three points.
For Politechnia, ex Yeovil, Southend, AFC Wimbledon and Hayes and Yeading striker Shayon Harrison played the whole game.
Sepsi OSK 1-1 Dinamo Bucharesti ( att : 6,550 )
Sepsi went into this match as the only side with a 100% record after two games, and after dropping their first points of the season they dropped to third in the table on goal difference. Dinamo moved up a place to sixth.
Dinamo had the first good chance of the match in the 13th minute when after a quick break, Madagascan striker Hakim Abdallah’s ( 13 caps ) shot across the face of the goal was pushed away by keeper Niczuly and good defending by Denis Ciobotariu denied Kosovan Astrit Selmani ( 5 caps ) a tap in.
The home side opened the scoring after 29 minutes. Bogdan Oteliță’s chip across goal from inside area on right enabled Florin Stefan ( 1 cap ) to steal in in beyond far post for a convincing finish, although the keeper probably should have done better.
Shortly after, a great defensive slide from Togolese defender Josue Homawoo prevented Sepsi’s Kallaku ( 7 cap ) sliding in for a simple finish after a ball in from the left.
Two minutes before half time, Dennis Politic delivered a left-wing cross but Abdallah’s finish from the angle of the 6 yard box was poor.
Dinamo had the slight edge in the second half, and with 60 minutes played a slick passing move saw the ball find Abdallah just inside the area, but his blaze clipped the top of crossbar and went over. The Sepsi keeper may have got his fingertips to it.
The equaliser for Dinamo arrived in the 74th minute. Andrei Bani crossed from the left, Selmani made a dummy to allow the ball to reach Moldovan winger Petru Neagu, who after ghosting between two defenders, took one touch then finished left-footed from 14 yards,
Sunday July, 28 2024
Farul Constanta 0-1 FC Botosani ( att : 2,933 )
Farul crashed to a second consecutive 0-1 home loss to go bottom of the table. If he didn’t own the club Gheorghe Hagi might be under pressure, but perhaps he has been distracted by the rumours that he is the main candidate to take over as the national coach following the resignation of Edward Iordanescu following Euro 2024. These were Botosani’s first points of the season, which took them off the foot of the table.
In a quiet first half of little action, Farul’s Armenian forward Narek Grigoryan ( 5 caps ) headed over the bar from 10 yards when unmarked for a cross from the left wing, and Botosani’s Angolan playmaker Aldair saw his left footed shot from outside the area produce a sprawling low diving save from keeper Buzbuchi.
Botosani took the lead almost immediately after the restart, when an incisive through pass from Nigerian midfielder Adams Friday sent Ștefan Bodișteanu clear, and his shot from the edge of area went across the goal and into bottom corner.
Farul were give a way back into the game in the 55th minute when Friday undid his earlier good work with a straight red card. Both players seemed to be hurt after a challenge with Brazilian Gustavo Marins, but the replay appeared to show Friday stepping on the toe of the Farul player, but the Brazilian kept pointing to his shin whilst rolling around on the floor.
As expected Farul dominated the final 30 minutes of the match but couldn’t find a way through the Botosani defence and some inspired goalkeeping from Eduard Pap. Brazilian Rivaldinho sent a glancing header wide from 6 yards after a cross from the left by Cristian Ganea ( 8 caps ), and frankly he should have done better.
Ganea then had a deflected cross pushed over the bar by the keeper, Gabriel Iancu ( 4 caps ) sent a free-kick curling just wide although the keeper had it covered, then Ganea saw his 25 yard left footed swerving effort spectacularly pushed away for corner.
As Farul continued to press, Rivaldinho rose the highest for a corner but his header from 6 yards clipped top of the bar, Ganea drilled a left footed shot just over the bar from a tight angle and then in injury time Alexandru Stoian set-up Iustin Doicaru for a first-time attempt from 20 yards that went a foot wide.
CFR Cluj 0-2 CS Universitatea Craiova ( att : 7,500 )
In a meeting of the sides that finished second and third last season, Universitatea Craiova caused a minor surprise with this away victory that took them to the top of the early season league table. Cluj dropped to mid-table, and after also a disappointing mid-week result in Europe, coach Dan Petrescu will be starting to feel the heat.
The home side were up against it when Liberia midfielder Mohammad Kamara ( 4 caps ) was shown a second yellow card in first half stoppage time for a reckless challenge on Cuban Luis Paradela ( 39 caps ).
The visitors took the lead in the 51st minute when Bosnian Elvir Koljic ( 4 caps ) headed home Georgian Anzor Mekvabishvili’s corner ( 17 caps ) from six yards out.
Universitatea Craiova thought they had doubled their lead in the 67th minute when Alexandru Cretu ( 7 caps ) sent a delightful curling finish across the goal into top corner. The referee had earlier in the move waved on play after a challenge by Japanese midfielder Takuto Oshima on Ivorian Kaider Keita ( 1 cap ), being very close to the incident and in a perfect position to see. However, VAR sent him to look at the pitch-side monitor and he reversed his decision and disallowed the goal. Interestingly though, a yellow card to Cluj Albanian defender Arlind Ajeti ( 29 caps ) for dissent at the time of the foul still stood !
Universitatea Craiova came close to adding a second goal in the closing stages as Andrei Ivan ( 17 caps ) saw his ambitious curler with outside of right foot from edge of area drift just wide of the far post, and then with 90 minutes up substitute Alexandru Mitrita ( 28 caps ) was put clean through, but with only the keeper to beat his shot hit keeper Razvan Sava’s legs.
Cluj nearly grabbed an underserved equaliser in the first minute of added time when first, Croatian Karlo Muhar had a deflected wide for a corner after a counterattack. Then a header from the corner hit a defender and then rebounded off the post before being hoofed clear by Cretu.
Mitrita had another chance to seal the victory but after being put clear following a give and go with Ivan, a heavy first touch enabled the keeper to dive at his feet and push the ball away. However, it was third time lucky for Mitrita when Costa Rican Carlos Mora’s clever pass ( 8 caps ) enabled him to slam left-footed in the roof of the net to clinch the points for the Craiova side.
Monday July 29, 2024
UTA Arad 0-0 Universitea Cluj ( att : 8,527 )
UTA Arad and Universitea Cluj played out a drab encounter in front of a healthy crowd in which Arad created slightly more chances. It was Arad second home draw, which left them third from bottom whilst U Cluj earned their second consecutive away draw to move to fourth in the table.
Arad came closest to scoring in the first minute after the interval when Slovak midfielder Andrej Fabry got to the left by-line and crossed to beyond the far post where Valentin Costache shot left-footed, but ex-FCSB defender Iulian Cristea ( 4 caps ) cleared off the line
Just before half-time Kenyan Eric Omondi ( 37 caps ) forced a diving save from U Cluj Lithuanian keeper Edvinas Gertmontas ( 12 caps ) and mid-way through the second half, Fabry was teed up by Omondi but sent a left-footed effort just wide from inside the 18 yard line.
For U Cluj, their only chance of note came in first half added on time when Cameroonian Franck Tchassem got onto a cross at the far post, but his effort was blocked by defender for a corner.
Petrolul Ploiesti 1-0 Rapid Bucharesti ( att : 9.700 )
For the second time this season Petrolul played the last match of the round on Monday night, and the highest crowd of the weekend saw them move up to mid-table, but Rapid remained without a win and dropped to 12th. The pressure is already building on coach Neil Lennon.
However, Rapid proverbially came out of the traps fast and dominated the opening few minutes. With less than two minutes played, after being set-up by Claudiu Petrila ( 1 cap ), Claudiu Micovschi saw his left footed shot edge of area produce a diving one handed save by Czech keeper Lukas Zima. The corner from Petrila saw a scramble after which defender Cristian Ignat turned and shot wide from 8 yards.
A minute later a low cross from the right was only partially intercepted and the ball fell to Slovak forward Timotej Jambor, but his shot from close range deflected off Sergiu Hanca ( 7 caps ) for a corner. Petrila’s dangerous delivery needed to be headed off at near post for another corner, and from his next attempt the home side could only partially clear, and when the ball was played back in, Serbian striker Borislav Burmaz was unmarked 6 yards out with only the keeper to beat. He took one touch to control and then shot left-footed against the post. He really ought to have buried it !
Rapid were made to pay for the miss when Petrolul opened the scoring against the run of play with a counterattack in the 31st minute. Hanca played a low ball in from the right wing to inside the penalty area where Kosovan Albin Berisha nipped in between the two central defenders to deftly flick left-footed past the on-rushing keeper Marian Aioani from 10 yards.
On stroke of half-time Rapid’s Paul Iacob headed Petrila corner on the 6 yard line, but keeper Zima made a great reflex save to tip over the bar.
There was little in the way of goal mouth action in the second half and Rapid’s misery was completed by a red card in the 87th minute to their Serbian midfielder Luka Gojkovic, with a stray elbow on Finnish midfielder Tommi Jyry which was more clumsy than malicious.
European Progress
After a gentle stroll past San Marino champions Virtus, FCSB faced tougher opposition in Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv. Their stuttering start to the season continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw in Bucharest in front of a crowd of 26,235 and a draw on the night looked a fair result. They fell behind in the 70th minute when a rash attempt at an interception by Ghanaian defender Nana Antwi, formally of Lori and Urartu in the Armenian Premier League, allowed Maccabi’s Ghanaian striker Henry Addo to surge towards goal, and although his effort was saved by FCSB keeper Tarnovanu, ex-Ludogorets midfielder Dan Biton ( 1 cap ) was on hand to volley home the opening goal from close range.
The equaliser came 15 minutes from the end when Cameroon centre-back Joyskim Dawa ( 9 caps ) glanced home a curling free-kick from captain Darius Olaru ( 20 caps ), who is rated by Transfermrkt as the most valuable player in the SuperLiga at €7M.
FCSB pressed for the winner and Marius Stefanescu put a good chance wide and in added on time Alexandru Musi was just unable to get onto the end of ai inviting cross from Olaru. However, Maccabi hung on for the draw, although their task in the second leg wasn’t made any easier by the game being held at the Bozsik Arena, home of Honved, in Budapest due to the ongoing conflicts in Palestine.
The second leg looked like heading for extra-time but a 90th minute winner from ex-Dessel Belgian midfielder Willem Baeten saw the Israeli champions beaten. FCSB now face Sparta Prague in the Third Qualifying round.
Second Division Cup Winners Corvinul Hunedoara perhaps over performed to eliminate Hungarian side Paks in the First Qualifying Round of the Europa League and they now faced top Croatian side Rijeka in the Second Round. In the first leg played in Hunedoara, the Croats dominated possession, but it was Corvinul who fashioned the few chances in the game but were unable to create anything gilt-edged. Still the draw all added to Romania’s UEFA co-efficient, although Corvinul Hunedoara would be rank outsiders to progress from the second leg in Rijeka. The attendance at the first leg was 7,432.
Last season’s runners-up CFR Cluj would have expected to romp past Belarus side Neman Grodno in their Second Qualifying Round tie in the Europa Conference, but to those of us who followed Belarus football in the Covid lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 ( and even obtained a Neman scarf ! ) they laboured to a 0-0 home draw in front of a crowd of 5,366.
Krygyz international Alykulov ( 20 caps ) came close to opening the scoring for Neman in the first half, after which Greek international Pangiotis Tachtsidis ( 25 caps ) acrobatically volleyed wide from Cluj’s best chance of the first half.
Striker Daniel Birligea ( 2 caps ) shot across the face of goal in the first minute after half-time and then Cluj looked to be hard done by when Tachtsidis appeared to beat the offside trap only to be brought down by the Neman keeper, but surprisingly offside was given. The replay’s showed Tachtsidis appeared to be onside but the linesman’s flag was raised, and VAR didn’t intervene.
Tachtsidis then appealed furiously for a handball in the 90th minute but the Neman defender’s arm was next to his body so the referee correctly allowed play to continue. From the corner, Vasile Mogos ( 8 caps ) rose the highest but Neman keeper Maksim Belov made a regulation diving save to keep it scoreless.
The second leg is to be played behind closed doors in Gyor in Hungary.
Romania’s other side in the Europa Conference, Universitatea Craiova, faced Slovenian side NK Maribor and slumped to a 0-2 in the first leg in front of 5,500 spectators in Slovenia, leaving themselves a difficult hurdle to overcome in the return leg.
A first half red card to Honduran defender Denil Maldonado didn’t help and Jan Repas ran through to open the scoring for the Slovenian side in the 57th minute. Austrian forward Arnel Jakupovic was left unmarked to add a header three minutes from time.
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