On "Municipal" Stadium in Drobeta Turnu Severin it held the ninth game of the of the 34th stage (last) of Liga 1, edition 2009-2010. Universitatea Craiova met Otelul Galati. A team which was motivated to escape from relegation (Craiova) and a demotivated team, which fought for honor (Galati) and with a lot of problems due to injuries and suspensions.
Craiova played great, getting a nice victory against Otelul Galati 3-0 (1-0), thanks to goals scored by Iliev (14 '), Prepelita (50') and Barboianu (90 '), a result which maintain Craiova in the first Romanian football league. For Craiova was sufficient a draw in this game, but 3 points helped our team to finish this championship on the 13th place in the table from 18 teams in Liga I.
You can see the goals of this game in the video below:
Steaua Bucharest did not made a good impression in the last match played in front of their own supporters, but they won after a bad game, in lack of technical achievements on both sides.
22:00 o'clock was a very inappropriate hour for a football game. Both football teams left the impression they are sleeping on the field. The same sensation had also the viewers of the game. The owners of the both teams, Gigi Becali from Steaua and Adrian Mititelu from Craiova get cursed by the fans and they received trivial invitations to leave the teams for someone else. Both galleries agreed with this point of view during this game.
About the match, but poor words as was the game. Fewer technical achievements. Pleşan two shots on goal in first half both saved by Lung jr. And, perhaps, mostmissed opportunity for Steaua in the first half by Surdu.
Craiova, while seated bravely on the ground, were timid in front of the goal. Mihai Costea was often as individualistic as his older brother. The only occasion was created by Steaua's defender Petre Marin, who in the 38th minute sent a soft pass to his goalkeeper, Firţulescu intercepted but he sent a weak shot near the goal of Tătăruşanu.
In the second half, Arman Karamyan, perhaps the best player of Steaua, openened the score in 70th minute of the game, after a pass from Surdu, who relapsed eight minutes later. Steaua said goodbye to their own supporters with a good result, but with a modest game. Craiova made a pale impression and they still need a victory in the next game to remain in the first Romanian football league.
Our team: Lung - Dănănae, V. Găman ('34 R. Barbu), Iliev, Bălace - Prepeliţă, Dilevski ('71 Gangioveanu), Bărboianu, Firţulescu - M. Costea, Dina ('82 Craciun)
This was a very important game. Universitatea Craiova was trying to stay in the first league, while Cluj came to the Danube to keep a fragile advantage in the front of League I.
Craiova started euphoric the game and after a few unsuccessful attacks, in the 12th minute Prepelita created a superb action on the right side. He evaded of two opponents and sent a cross in the six meters square where Piturca defeated Nuno Claro by a heel strike. 1-0.
Just over nine minutes, Mihai Costea doubled the advantage with a powerful shot from a short corner from around 12 meters and fans remembered Craiova's victory from the previous season, 4-1 against CFR Cluj. Until the break, both teams have split scoring opportunities, but the score remained unchanged. In the 38th minute, Alcantara saw the red card after hitting Dina.
At the break CFR started to put constant pressure on the goal defended by Lung jr. Cluj efforts materialized in the 63rd minute when Traore has relaunched the game. CFR Cluj, although outnumbered, continued to attack. With five minutes before the end of regular time, Bud restored the equality. Misfortune struck again Universitatea Craiova. In the third extra minute, Iliev comited a foul against Traore in the box and the penalty kick was converted by the captain of CFR Cluj, Cadu. The Severin's stadium get down in silence.
University lost another game and its fans have a lot of reasons to be worried. They will seriously shake for the last two days remained to play in this season.
The nightmare of all Oltenians has a name: Zoran Filipovici. So was 27 years ago when this Montenegrin football player was Benfica's striker and his goal stoped Universitatea Craiova from its road to the UEFA Cup's final act.
Now, Zoran Filipovici is the coach of Ceahlaul Piatra-Neamt and he ruined the debut of Eugen Trica as Craiova's coach. Mark Wotte was replaced by Trica after some missunderstandings with the administrative stuff of Universitatea Craiova.
In the first half, the guests made Villadsen to think that he is a gret goalkeeper. Costea II ('23) and Dina ('33) remained alone with the Dane, but he blocked them. Although the visitors did not forgive him third time. Mihai Costea ('65) exploited Dina's intelligent pass and scored for 0-1.
When the cards seemed to be made, Filipovici fortunate sent Ibrahim in the field and this, after half minute scored for a draw after a Barcauan's perfect pass. Lung jr saved once again in front of Ibrahim but he had to give up in the last minute of the game, when Cebotaru scored for Ceahlaul's victory. Only one second earlier, Craciun was all alone in front of Villadsen but he could not beat the goalkeeper fron Piatra-Neamt.
"Football has changed enormously from 1983, when I have played against Universitatea. Craiova do not deserve the relegation, there are teams are much worse than them". Zoran Filipovic - Ceahlaul's coach
Ovidiu Dananae returned in the field after almost nine months from the serious knee injury he suffered in a friendly game played by Romania against Hungary. He was replaced in the 74th minute of this game.
Our team: Lung – Dănănae ('74 Firtulescu), V. Găman, Barbu, Bălace - Prepeliţă, Bărboianu, Dilevski, Gângioveanu - Dina ('89 Craciun), M. Costea ('71 A. Piturca)
For every fan of Universitatea Craiova it was a crazy game. Universitatea had in the field a children "invasion", while Unirea Urziceni allowed to keep on the bench people who scored in Champions League.
The only ones who seemed to care about this were Craiova's players, who started the game with a lot of enthusiasm. This did not last to long because at the first goal phase, the champions opened the score. Maftei centered and Bilaşco, alone in the penalty area, scored by a head strike. It was the 8th minute of the game and everything seemed to be lost for Oltenia.
Six minutes later Firţulescu had a big chance to chang this game's result. Piturca was excellent and passed to this midfielder, but he targeted from 12 meters the oposite goalkeeper. Guests have understood the warning and focused more on defensive. They closed all the spaces toward Grigore's goal and nothing important happened until breaktime.
After the break, Mark Wotte forced the attack and he changed Paunovic for Mihai Costea. But Ron Levy made decisive moves. All his 3 reserves scored in this game. Rusescu ('71), Pădureţu ('81) and Semedo (88) ruined holiday in Severin. Craiova inserted a goal between the first two goals of Urziceni, but the great success of Gângioveanu ('75), has not mattered until artistic impression.
Our team: Merlier - Buleică, V. Găman, R. Barbu, Bălace - Prepeliţă, Bărboianu, Paunovici ('46 M. Costea), Firţulescu ('58 Gangioveanu) - Piţurcă jr. ('68 Craciun), Dina
After an excellent match in Romanian Cup against Brasov, Fortuna left Vaslui and turned her face to Craiova, a team struggling to stay in Liga I.
From the begining of the game in Vaslui hostilities was as clearly as possible: hosts in outposts, guests "in the box", hoping for a lucky strike back. Pavlovic had a head strike in the 19th minute but he missed, Lucian Sânmărtean tried also to beat Lung jr in 41st minute but he failed from 10 meters.
In front of a little disoriented and not so incisive team, Lacatus' players did not succeded to manage the first half of the game. In the 71st minute Piturca escaped from defenders of Vaslui marking and scored in the goal of Kuciak. Moldavian arena came in complete silence. Note that before this goal, Wotte wanted to change Piturca, but the referee Robert Dumitru did not allow the change. As expected, the hosts finished the game on the offensive, but they were stuck in front of Craiova's goal. Costly scored once, but from an offside position, and thus missed a good chance to bring his team on the second post in the table. Lung jr. that was redcarded in extra time for the second yellow card, but Universitatea Craiova's goal was succesfully defended by Mihai Dina who got the goalkeeper's gloves and T-shirt.
Craiova was supported by a single fan in Vaslui. At the end of the game, all the players celebrated this precious victory together with this unique supporter. Wotte's football players have plunged on the grass in front of him, and after they have climbed the fence and sang along with the only man who had a sit in the reserved for guests area.
Craiova climbed to 10th place in the table after victory against Astra
Mihai Dina was the scorer of our goal.
Craiova approached with fear the game against Astra Ploiesti. Both teams played carefully and showed an ugly football in the first half. It was a blind fight between 22 players. The biggest event of the first part belonged Nicolo Napoli's team. He was Universitatea Craiova's trainer in the last season. And now he is preparing Astra Ploiesti. Liviu Ganea perfectly served Gussev ('28) but this could not shot. Craiova replied by Gîngioveanu but his shot missed the goal('31).
Second round was a carbon copy of the first 45 minutes. Two teams scared by the importance of the game. It was a pressure which affected the result. They tried more to block each other than to attack.
The goal of Dina came in the 72nd minute after a serious error of Astra's defense. Craiova speculated this, and the team of Napoli received first goal of the game. Craciun perfectly served Dina who resumed in the net from 4 meters of the goal.
In the end of the game, Balace get two yellow cards and get eliminated. Oprsal had a head shot but this was over the target ('81). Mihai Costea had the chance to score one more goal for Craiova but he shot in Miron from a good good position. In the 89th minute of the game, Nicolo Napoli was sent off from Astra's bench by the referee Cristi Balaj. He vehemently protested at an unseen foul by the referee. Craiova won three points and is now more relaxed in the fight to resist in the first football league.
Our team: Lung – Buleică, V. Găman, Iliev, Bălace - Prepeliţă, Bărboianu, Trică ('54 Craciun, '82 R. Barbu), Gângioveanu ('57 Firtulescu) - M. Costea, Dina
Transylvanians took advantage of eliminating Marius Ologu and they won thanks to two goals scored by Selagea .
Wotte's Craiova resembles a patient kept alive by machines only. Universitatea's state of coma worsen gradually from stage to stage.
Without both Costea brothers, Trica, Barboianu and Gîngioveanu, all absent for various reasons, it was not Universitatea the team which moved in the first quarter hour of the match. Balto ('6) created the first dangerous situation, but he delayed shooting and was blocked by Iliev. Lung Jr showed then that he inherited from his father qualities of great goalkeeper and blocked the bombs of Jovanovic ('9) and Enzo Bruno ('15).
The first applause of the Oltenians viewers came in the 20th minute of the game after a head shot of Prepelita. Alex Piturca could do the hit if his shoot would have bypassed the veteran Rotaru. Then it was a both ways game until the break. In the 45th minute of the game, Tudor, the referee of the game, broken balance by easily red carding Ologu.
Contrary to the expectations, Craiova has created several occasions, but the new player Craciun was not generous with his team's supporters. The striker has missed three times alone to the goal, but he came later to be meeting with the ball ('59) and he targeted the enemy goalkeeper, Rotaru ('65, '66).
In the 68th minute of the game, Tudor said it was 11m kick for an execution of Bădoi against Vitinha and Selagea converted it to 1-0. In the 71st minute Selagea scored again for 2-0 and the game was done.
Magera relaunched Timisoara in their race for the champion title through a goal scored in the last minute of the game.
The previous match convinced 20,000 viewers to choose the way to the stadium by three arguments stronger than choosing to celebrate Eastern at home: rithm, goal opportunities, goals!
In Drobeta Turnu-Severin the duel began in blue shades in the stadium and yellow and black colors on the field. In the first phase of Timisoara, Parks put a blanket over Craiova's defense and ideally served Goga. The striker scored in the empty goal, 0-1 ('7). Oltenian's attack deplored the lack of Florin Costea and the middle deplored the lack of the Prepelita. But the defense was Craiova's pride yesterday. V. Iliev scored for 1-1 with a great execution, by the heel! There were three main attributes of this goal: Wotte, because he showed to his pupils a great scheme, the excellent Firtulescu that centered from the left side, and the Bulgarian Iliev, captain of Universitatea Craiova for the first time in this game, who had a Brazilian execution. It was 1-1 at the break, although Piturca jr. tried with a head shot from the box to break the symmetry.
The guests remembered that they want to win this championship and they fought to get it. They increased the speed of the game. But Craiova had Merlier. The Belgian goalkeeper saved for Oltenia in front of Magera, left alone in the square at 10 meters, after a deflected shot of Alexa. At the last phase of the match, Sepsi centered in the square, Merlier could not keep that ball, and he deflected it to Magera. After his shoot, the score was 1-2 ('90+3).
Blue and white were greeted at Severin in a gala atmosphere. The match was sold out. They ran out of all the 18,500 tickets with two hours before the match. Fans stormed the gates of the arena two hours before the game, so the stadium was almost full 60 minutes before the start whistle. The two groups of supporters have respected each other, without incidents in the stadium. Timisoara had a gallery of about 300 fans. At the beginning of the match nearly 20,000 people started the uproar, the stadium was colored with thousands of blue and white flags.
Florin Costea has not been forgotten by the organizers. At first home match after his serious injury suffered in game against Politehnica Iasi, on the scoreboard were sequences with his best past actions. There were also posted messages of support for Florin. The supporters applauded his name for a long time.
Our team: Merlier - Bărboianu, Iliev, V. Găman ('67 R. Barbu), Bălace - Firţulescu ('68 Craciun), Ologu, Dilevski, Gângioveanu - Piţurcă ('85 Trica), M. Costea
With Florin Costea on a hospital bed, Universitatea Craiova went last night in Bucharest looking for some points which are very useful for the end of this football season. With a new system Craiova, 4-4-2, and with Ologu, a 20 years old kid, as a substitute for Florin Costea, Mark Wotte placed Prepelita and Dilevski as central midfielders.
Rapid scored in the first phase of the game, but their goal was canceled for an offside. Craiova had a shot of Dina (16') and the younger brother of Florin Costea, Mihai, missed a simple retrieval alone with Bornescu (19'). Mircea Bornescu, former goal-keeper of Universitatea Craiova in the last 4 years, is playing now for Rapid Bucharest.
After the break, Wotte realized that Sapunaru from Rapid, ex-FC Porto, is not so scary and took himself the risk to get out a midfielder, Ologu, and put a striker on, Alex Piţurcă. Although the hosts took over the game and they were dangerous for Silviu Lung's goal. Herea ('46) and Răduţa twice ('49, '57) did not beat Lung in good situations.
The end was played sharply, Dina had a bar on Bornescu's goal('70). At the other goal, Herea monumental missed one shoot, all alone with Lung('77), then Răduţa two meters from the goal ('78). In the last seconds of the game, Gangioveanu ('90+2) did a great shot in cross and that was the only valid goal of this game.
Some players from Craiova get an yellow card in this game, and Prepelita, Lung and Dina will miss for the next match, against Timisoara.
Our team: Lung - Bărboianu, V. Găman, Iliev, Bălace - Prepeliţă, Dilevski, Ologu ('46 A. Piturca), Gângioveanu - Dina ('70 Trica), M. Costea ('81 Firtulescu)
This is my football team. For those of you who are non British, I am talking about a soccer team.
Universitatea Craiova has a great history and is one of the most representative teams in Romanian football. Our team get 4 times the champion title and won 6 times the Romanian football cup.
I hope the story will not end here. Forza Stiinta!
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