Florin Costea off

Florin Costea will be absent from the field for over 8 months, he had split the cross and collateral ligaments of his left knee.

Before the results of location, Costea still hope that will catch the end season: "I hope the injury is not very serious one. I hope I can catch the end of the season, thanks to the good God".

This is the second important football player loss for Universitatea Craiova in this season due to serious injuries, after the defender Ovidiu Dănănae.

He suffered a similar injury like Florin Costea in August 2009, in an international match of Romania against Hungary, and 7 months away he is still not recovered 100%.

Universitatea Craiova - Politehnica Iasi 2-1

A new great game played by Universitatea Craiova, a team who is looking for entertaining every day. This game was very nice to look at. It was very entertaining and Craiova really made a good match. In the 44th minute of the game, Florin Costea get injured by the goalkeeper of the opponent team.

He was replaced by Alex Piturca. Let's hope it is not something serious for the most important player of Universitatea Craiova. In the 62nd minute of the game, Vali Iliev, a new Bulgarian football player transfered by Craiova in this winter, scored for 1-0 and everything was just perfect for our team. Unfortunately in the 85th minute of the game Politehnica Iasi scored for a draw and Universitatea Craiova saw for a while the incredible situation to play in the second league next year.

That was only for 4 minutes, until Prepelita, the captain of Universitatea Craiova, scored again by a really nice head strike and Craiova came back to life again. I think I almost made a heart attack at that goal... 3 more points in the table and Universitatea can hope again.

Our team: S. Lung jr. – Bărboianu, V. Găman, Iliev, Bălace – Prepeliţă, Dilevski, Gîngioveanu ('69 Barbu) - Dina ('79 Trica) - M. Costea, Fl. Costea ('44 A. Piturca)

Gloria Bistrita - Universitatea Craiova 2-1

What a game! What a game! Craiova had 1-0 in the 3rd minute of it. F. Costea scored for Universitatea Craiova and everything seemed to be just fine for all the fans of Craiova. Actually the problems stared here. The referee of the game had another opinion and gave a penalty kick for Bistrita in the 34th minute of the game. It was a moment of mental block for all the audience. Nobody saw a contact in the penalty area. Everything was normal in the penalty area, but the referee said Bistrita deserve an 11m kick. Because of this, the score became 1-1 and it remained like that until the break time.

After the break Bistrita scored once more. This time it was a perfect valid goal, and Gloria took the lead of the game. In the 86th minute of the game, the goalkeeper of Gloria Bistrita, Albut, was redcarded. So their goal was succesfully defended by the scorer of the second goal, Hora. Universitatea Craiova could not get even in 8 minutes with one player more in the field and a striker of the opponent team defending the goal.

Our team: Lung - Bădoi, V. Găman, Iliev, Bălace, Barbu ('73 Gangioveanu), Prepeliţă, Dilevski ('68 Barboianu), M. Costea, F. Costea, Dina('62 Trica)

Universitatea Craiova - FC Brasov 3-0

Universitatea Craiova made a really wonderful game last Saturday. In the 25th minute of the game the score was already 3-0. In front of an assistance of 15,000 viewers, our team started in force the match.

Our goals were scored by V. Gaman('16), R. Barbu('25) and M. Costea('36). All these players are part of U21 Romanian national football team. Now Craiova is on the 14th place in the table. Let's hope our team will go up until the end of this season.

Our team: Lung - Bădoi, V. Găman, Iliev (Firtulescu), Bălace - Prepeliţă, Barbu, Dilevski - M. Costea, F. Costea ('80 Nicolae), Dina ('75 Trica)

Pandurii Tg Jiu - Universitatea Craiova 0-0

Universitatea Craiova made a good game this time. It was a really bad weather durring this match but both teams played good and the result was a consequence of the fight on the field. In this match, Barboianu was red carded and he will miss for the next game. F. Costea played only 1 minute because he had fever and was really sick.

Our team: Lung - Bădoi, V. Găman, Iliev, Buşu - Prepeliţă, Bărboianu, Dilevski, Gângioveanu ('54 Firtulescu) - Dina (F. Costea), M. Costea ('60 R. Barbu)

Universitatea Craiova - Gaz Metan Medias 1-2

Universitatea Craiova played the first game at home in this year. But the game was played in Drobeta Turnu-Severin, a city placed 120 Km to the west of Craiova. The stadium from Craiova is not possible to be used for a while so that Universitatea Craiova will play in Severin for the next 2 years.

Gaz Metan Medias did a good game and won without any doubt. Craiova tried hard to score and succeded in the minute 90+5 by Trica. Unfortunately this was not enough to get a good result. Another game lost for our team. Florin Costea missed a penalty kick in the 11th minute of the game.

Our team: Lung - Bădoi ('69 Trica), V. Găman, Iliev, Bălace - Firţulescu ('56 Dina), Bărboianu, Prepeliţă, Gângioveanu - M. Costea ('81 A. Piturca), F. Costea

Dinamo Bucharest - Universitatea Craiova 2-1

What a game, what a game! This is the game of the year in Romania. Universitatea Craiova must play its best against Dinamo Bucharest. And this time they did. Craiova came in Bucharest decided to do a perfect game. Unfortunately the referee was the main actor of this game.

Dinamo scored twice, but Florin Costea was no doubt faulted in the penalty area in the 13th minute of the game. The referee said: "come and play". No penalty, no card for Dinamo's defender, nothing. That was the moment which made an entire country being like a stone. Probably corruption...

Mark Wotte, the new Dutch trainer of Universitatea Craiova remained speechless. Such thing can not happen.

Our team: Lung - Bărboianu, Găman, Iliev, Bălace - Prepeliţă, Paunovic ('45 Trica), Firţulescu ('61 Gangioveanu) - M. Costea, Dina ('81 A.Piturca), F. Costea

Our goal was scored by Mihai Dina('19).

Friendly games in this winter

Universitatea Craiova played some friendly games in this winter. Our team prepared the next season in Turkey and in Bulgaria. The results of these games were:

- In Antalya, Turkey

Universitatea Craiova - Zenit Sankt Petersburg II 2-0

our goals: Dina ('50) and Craciun ('73)

Universitatea Craiova - Incheon United 2-2

our goals: F. Costea ('28) and M. Costea ('63)

Volgar Gazprom Astrakhan - Universitatea Craiova 2-1

our goal: M. Roman ('88)

Universitatea Craiova - SV Babelsberg ‘03 0-1

Universitatea Craiova - Zorya Lugansk 1-1

our goal: F. Costea ('30)

Universitatea Craiova - Spartak Nalcik 1-0

our goal: F. Costea ('5-pen)

- In Pomorie, Bulgaria

Universitatea Craiova - OFC Sliven 1-0

our goal: F. Costea ('71)

Otelul Galati - Universitatea Craiova 1-0

It was a winter game. On 12th of December, Craiova went in Moldavia to face Otelul (eng. The Steel) from Galati. There are not so much to say about this game. Only we lost another game and now will be a 3 months break. Maybe in springtime we will have a better team.

This was the last game for Eugen Neagoe as a trainer of Universitatea Craiova. Starting with 2010 Universitatea Craiova has a new trainer called Mark Wotte.

Our team: Lung - Bădoi, Stoica, Mitchell, Rose - Bărboianu ('82 M. Roman), Trică, Şoavă ('64 R. Barbu), Firţulescu ('58 V. Badea) - M. Costea, Dina

Universitatea Craiova - Steaua Bucharest 1-2

It was a very important game for all the fans of Universitatea Craiova. Unfortunately the result was not the one we expected. Maybe next time...

Our team: Lung - Bădoi, Găman, Stoica, Rose - Prepeliţă, Bărboianu, Şoavă, Firţulescu ('61 Wobay)- F. Costea, M. Costea ('78 V. Badea)

Our goal was scored by Prepelita ('15).

CFR Cluj-Napoca - Universitatea Craiova 2-0

It was a match without history. Our team: Lung - Bărboianu, Găman, Mitchell, Rose - Dina ('61 Badoi), Stoica, Trică ('79 Firtulescu) - Badea, F. Costea, M. Costea ('73 Wobay)

Craiova lost this game without any appeal right. I want rather not to remember such a game.

Universitatea Craiova - Drobeta Turnu-Severin 7-0

It was a friendly game between a prestigious football team and the last team in the second Romanian football league. Drobeta has no chances to save this year. Probably they will be in the 3rd league next year. Universitatea Craiova has a great history and at least 50 years of presence in First Romanian Football League.

The game was beautiful and was played in front of 20,000 viewers. That's the record of Romanian football for 2009. Our team:   Lung ('46 Merlier), Bărboianu, Găman ('66 Mitchell), Barbu, Buşu, Stoica ('40 Soava), Jackie Ionescu ('46 Badoi), Firţulescu ('71 M. Roman), Wobay ('54 Dina), Fl. Costea ('48 V. Badea), M. Costea ('71 Trica)

The goals were scored by: Fl. Costea ('16), M. Costea ('24), Firtulescu ('47), Wobay ('53), Dina ('60), M. Roman ('75, '81)

Universitatea Craiova - Ceahlaul Piatra-Neamt 3-2

It was an usual home game. It had not to much viewers. Although it was just a step for Craiova to do something wrong because the score of the game was 2-2 until the 88th minute of the game. In that moment, Vali Badea had a lucky head strike and we had a happy ending of this match. 3-2 was the final result and Craiova went to the 10th position in the table.

Our team: Lung - Bădoi, Găman, Mitchell, Rose - Wobay ('68 Prepelita), Bărboianu ('60 Firtulescu), Şoavă - M. Costea, F. Costea, Dina ('60 V.Badea)

Our goals were scored by: M. Costea ('6), F. Costea ('37) and V. Badea ('88)

Universitatea Craiova - CFR Cluj 0-1

Universitatea Craiova met CFR Cluj in a game for 1/4 Cup of Romania. It was really a crazy match. The refeere of this game was Alexandru Tudor. He made a lot of mistakes in this game. Craiova had a goal perfectly correct which was rejected, CFR Cluj scored after an offside and that was the final score of the game.

Our team: Lung - Barboianu, Mitchell, Gaman, Rose - Stoica ('65 Firtulescu), Badoi, Wobay, Soava ('35 Dina) - M. Costea ('60 V. Badea), Fl. Costea

International Pitesti - Universitatea Craiova 0-1

That was finally the first away victory of Craiova in this season. We were waiting for it kind of 3 months and now it came. It was not such a nice game but these 3 points in the table are all that we need.

Our team: Lung- Bădoi, Găman, Mitchell, Rose - Wobay ('81 Firtulescu), Dilevski, Stoica - M. Costea ('73 V. Badea), F. Costea, Dina ('66 Soava).

Our goal was scored by Mihai Dina ('42) after an assist of Julius Wobay.

Unirea Urziceni - Universitatea Craiova 3-2

This was probably the best match of this winter season. Well... actually only the second half of the game. Because Universitatea Craiova made a waiting game in the first half and because of this we received a goal in the 27th minute of the game.

After the break, this match was like a hurricane. Big opportunities in front of both goals, and more 4 goals scored. Craiova came back twice and made 1-1, and 2-2. This should be the final result of the game, but Urziceni scored in the very last  second of the game ('93) and the final score was 3-2. Nice game but no points in table for Craiova.

Our team: Merlier - Bădoi, Găman, Stoica, Mitchell - Bărboianu ('46 Trica), Dilevski ('65 Dina), Rose ('46 Wobay), Şoavă - M. Costea, F. Costea

Our goals were scored by: M. Costea ('54) and Wobay ('70)

Politehnica Iasi - Universitatea Craiova 0-3

Universitatea Craiova played this time in 1/8 Cup of Romania against Politehnica Iasi. Even our team lost the game against Iasi in Championship, this time it did a good game. It was a very good game and a nice show for the audience. It was also the game when Dorel Stoica came back. Let's hope he will stay for a long time with Craiova.

Our team: Merlier - Bădoi, Găman, Stoica, Mitchell ('90 Firtulescu) - Prepeliţă ('76 Wobay), Dilevski, Rose, Şoavă - M. Costea ('89 Dina), F. Costea

Our goals were scored by Mihai Costea ('25-p, 42') and Florin Costea ('88). Merlier saved a penalty kick in the 78th minute of the game.

Universitatea Craiova - FC Vaslui 1-2

It was another bad match of Universitatea Craiova. Our team lost another game on its own field. And now we really are in danger. Craiova it is on the 15th pace in the table and needs a quickly improving of its football quality. Otherwise Universitatea Craiova will play again in the second League. 

Our team: Merlier - Bădoi, Găman, Mitchell, Rose - Prepeliţă, Dilevski, Şoavă ('46 M. Costea) - Wobay ('81 Firtulescu), F. Costea, Dina ('51 V. Badea)

Our goal was scored in the 89th minute of the game by Florin Costea.

Astra Ploiesti - Universitatea Craiova 3-1

It was a match against a team prepared by the former trainer of Universitatea Craiova, Nicolo Napoli. He knew very well our team but this is not an excuse. Craiova had a bad day and did a bad game. 


So we realy deserved this defeat. The only good thing of this game is Florin Costea scored again and he remains in the top of Romanian first league goalgetters.

Our team: Lung - Bădoi, Barbu, Mitchell, Şoavă ('74 Barboianu) - Wobay, Prepeliţă ('37 V. Badea), Dilevski ('27 Rose), Trică - F. Costea, M. Costea 

Universitatea Craiova - Gloria Bistrita 2-1

This was a friendly game. It was a big break during Romanian championship because of international games which are played in this 2 weeks. So Universitatea Craiova met again Gloria Bistrita in a friendly game. The result was OK. And that, because our trainer tested some young players and Universitatea Craiova succeded to come back after 0-1. The first goal was scored by Hora ('50) after a free kick executed by Madalin Ciuca, the former captain of Universitatea Craiova 3 years ago. Craiova came back scoring twice by Dilevski ('63) and V. Badea ('68).

Our team: Merlier - Bădoi, Dilevski, Mitchell ('76 Misic), Rose - Prepeliţă ('46 Wobay), Şoavă ('69 J.Nicolae), Dina ('66 Ologu), Firţulescu - F. Costea ('85 Roman), Badea

On the other hand, Dorel Stoica, the captain of Universitatea Craiova in the last 3 seasons, resigned his contract with our team. He will play abroad of Romania but is nothing clear yet.

Universitatea Craiova - Unirea Alba-Iulia 3-1

This game was harder than you can see looking the score. And that because the guests were really decided to do all their best against Craiova. They were close to score in the 2nd minute of the game, but Silviu Lung-jr, Craiova's goalkeeper, saved a shoot of Bobi Verdes.

Starting with the 15th minute of the game, Florin Costea had begun to show his class. He scored for 1-0 after a personal act. In the 30th minute of the game, the same Costea scored for 2-0 after a team combination. In the second half, Costea scored his third goal in this game because of a penalty kick after a fault of Poverlovici in the penalty area against Vali Badea. The goal of Alba-Iulia came in the 31st minute of this match, and was scored by Bobi Verdes after an error in defense of Josh Mitchell.

Our team: 21. S.Lung-jr - 32.Badoi, 4.Mitchell, 3.R. Barbu ('46 2.Barboianu), 8.Soava - 30.Prepelita, 6.Stoica, 33.Trica - 77.Wobay, 9.M. Costea ('60 11.V.Badea), 10.F. Costea ('85 20.Dina)

FC Timisoara - Universitatea Craiova 1-1

That was quite a match. That's the real football spirit. Universitatea Craiova went in Timisoara to win 3 points. Our team was really decided to win this game and they did a spectacular first half. In the 43rd minute of the game Mihai Costea scored for 1-0 and nobody thought it can be another winner of this game.

But in the second half the Viola team (italian for purple, their color) came back in the game. They forced a goal in the 63rd minute of the game. Actually it was a fault against Universitatea Craiova's goalkeeper, Siliviu Lung-jr. After that it was a real fight on the field but nobody was redcarded. Finally the score remained 1-1 and no one of these teams get lucky.

Our team: 21.Lung - 2.Bărboianu, 6.Stoica, 4.Mitchell, 8.Şoavă ('79 20. Dina) - 30.Prepeliţă, 13.Dilevski ('67 27.Rose), 33.Trică - 77.Wobay ('73 11.V. Badea), 10.F. Costea, 9.M. Costea.

Universitatea Craiova - Gloria Bistrita II 4-0

Universitatea Craiova played against the second team of Gloria Bistrita a match for 1/16 final of Romanian Football Cup. It was an easy game and nobody thought about who will win it. In the 4th minute of the game Florin Costea scored for 1-0. In the 12th minute of the game V. Gaman did an imprudence and was red carded. Even so, Craiova won with 4-0 thanks to another 2 goals scored by Mihai Costea and one more scored by Florin Costea. It was the first game for Florin Costea as captain of Universitatea Craiova and the first of Eugean Neagoe as a trainer of Craiova after Daniel Mogosanu was dismissed.

Our team: 21. Lung - 32. Badoi, 7. Gaman, 4. Mitchell, 27.Rose - 77. Wobay, 13. Dilevski, 33. Trica (2. Barboianu '56), 25. Firtulescu (3. Barb '15) - 9. Mihai Costea, 10. Florin Costea (11. V. Badea '66)

For Craiova scored: Fl. Costea ('4, '43) and M. Costea ('26, '77).

Universitatea Craiova - Rapid Bucharest 3-4

This game was really crazy. Craiova started the match after 6 games with contradictory results. That meant our team was in need for a victory. There were only 3500 people in audience of this game and this was a negative record for Universitatea Craiova.

Until the 20th minute of the game, Rapid had 2-0 on the score board. Craiova ran after a draw and finally they did that. At the break time the score was 2-2. In the second half of the game the amazing score evolution continued. And the final result was Craiova - Rapid 3-4. After this game Daniel Mogosanu was dismissed. The new manager of Universitatea Craiova will be Eugen Neagoe.

Our team: 21.Lung-jr, 2.Barboianu, 6.Stoica, 7.Gaman, 27.Rose, 30.Prepelita, 13.Dilevski ('67 77.Wobay), 8.Soava, 33.Trica, 9.M. Costea ('68 11.V. Badea), 10.F. Costea ('80 20.Dina)

For Craiova scored: M. Costea ('40), Stoica ('45) and V. Badea ('89)

Politehnica Iasi - Universitatea Craiova 1-0

Universitatea Craiova made another sad game and lost once more time. This time it was 0-0 at the break time. In the 60th minute of the game Mihai Costea received an assist from Eugen Trica. He had the whole goal free in front but his shoot hit the wood. In the very next moment of the game, Politehnica Iasi scored for 1-0 and that was the final result of the game.

Our team: Merlier, Bărboianu, Găman, Stoica, Rose , Şoavă, M. Costea ('69 Dina), Prepeliţă, Dilevski, F. Costea, Badea ('46 Trica)

South Africa 2010 World Cup

Last week there were a lot of international games for World Cup 2010 qualifying. In America and in Europe we had a lot of big surprises.

First of all, England made a great match against Croatia. They won with 5-1 and this score tells everything about this game. The bookmakers had already given to England the first chance to in the future World Cup. They are between the most valuable teams in the company of Spain and Brasil, of course.

Another big surprise will be Portugal. Even they have one of the greatest football players in the World, they did only a draw, 1-1 against Denmark, and they will miss in South Africa. So we will have a World Cup without Cristiano Ronaldo.

But the biggest surprise we had last week it was Argentina. After 1-3 against Brasil, they have lost one more game against Paraguay (0-1) and now it seems that Argentina will miss in South Africa, also. After Ronaldo, it seems that Lionel Messi will not be in the future World Cup. Diego Armando Maradona will be probably fired from Argentina's national football team. Next year we will see a championship without any stars but with a lot of soul and passion if you take a look at the fans of the winners.

Universitatea Craiova - Gloria Bistrita 5-1

Universitatea Craiova made a good show in a match against Gloria Bistrita. Michael Baird was the man of the match with two goals and an assist. This game gives us a good hope for future. It seems that our team can be in front of the table again.

Our team: 21.S. Lung jr. - 2.Bărboianu, 6.D. Stoica, 3.R. Barbu, 8.Şoavă - 30.Prepeliţă, 13.Dilevski ('73 88.J.Nicolae), 27.Rose - 17.Baird ('71 77.Wobay), 11.V. Badea, 10.Fl. Costea ('66 9.M. Costea)

The scorers were: Michael Baird ('32, '64), Vali Badea ('42), Florin Costea ('52), Julius Wobay ('82) for Bistrita scored Hora ('80)