May 13th, 2009

week 30

By: sasha | Comments 1 Comment

In week 30, the focus was on the Dinamo Bucureşti – Steaua Bucureşti derby which ended in a 1-1 draw which came with Gigi Becali issuing some choice words to describe Dinamo fans during the week. After a tightly played match Steaua Bucureşti took the lead with nine minutes remaining. Accepting the ball just outside the box Tiago Gomes laid the ball off to the right for Eric Bicfalvi whose effort from twenty-plus metres was helped in by Cosmin Moţi’s deflection. It seemed that Steaua had the upset but the Roş-albii came back as with three minutes left Claudiu Niculescu’s free-kick from thirty metres careened off Petre Marin and into the net to bring the match even.

Unirea Urziceni missed a chance to pull even with Dinamo as they were held to a 1-1 draw by defending champion CFR Cluj. The draw leaves Dan Petrescu’s side two points behind Dinamo with Cluj trailing Universitatea Craiova in the final Europa League spot due to goal differential. Romanian international Bogdan Mara gave Cluj the 1-0 lead four minutes in as he fearlessly dove to head in Alvaro Pereira’s cross from the left. Nine minutes later former Huracán man Pablo Brandán squared the match as he sent in Răzvan Pădureţu’s free-kick from left in from close range.

The Viorel Hizo led Rapid Bucureşti continued on the winning path as it defeated relegation condemned Gloria Buzău 1-0 on a late goal. A minute into added time Lucian Răduţă won a clearance in the area and the ball came to Pinto who after a controlling touch sent the ball in from the six yard box.

Timişoara returned to the winning column with a 1-0 hard fought victory over Oţelul Galaţi bringing Gabi Balint’s side to within four points of Dinamo. The leagues top scorer, Romanian international Gigi Bucur broke the deadlock midway of the half as he out dueled Galaţi defender Sergiu Costin for a long ball on the right, turned and drove the ball with this left foot to the inside post.

Răzvan Lucescu’s FC Braşov got back into hunt for European football League hunt with a 2-1 victory over Farul Constanţa. Braşov opened the scoring sixteen minutes in as captain Robert Ilyes made it 1-0 from the spot after a Romeo Surdu by Farul ‘keeper George Curcă. Eight minutes later rising star Sabrin Sburlea made it 2-0. With twenty minutes remaining Willian Gerlem’s free-kick from the left into the box was nodded in by Ben Teekloh to bring the match within one but that was it got and the match ended with Braşov winning 2-1.

Universitatea Craiova maintain their spot in the Europa League with a tight 1-0 victory over CS Otopeni. With the match deadlocked Florin Costea found the winning touch with twelve minutes remaining as he redirected Florin Costin Şoava’s effort from the left into the net from the edge of the six yard box.

Vaslui kept its slim European football hopes alive with a 2-1 defeat of Gaz Metan Mediaş via Wesley’s late goal. After remaining scoreless for seventy-nine minutes Viorel Moldovan’s side broke the deadlock as Bulgarian international Stanislav Genchev raced down the right channel before driving the ball in from ten metres. Only four minutes later Mediaş leveled the match as Florin Sabou sent a dipping effort from beyond the box over Vaslui ‘keeper Dušan Kuciak and into the net. However with three minutes left in the match Wesley drilled a free-kick over the wall and into the net for the 2-1 win.

Argeş Piteşti defeated Gloria Bistriţa 2-1 via Elias Bazzi’s brace. Piteşti took the lead seventeen minutes in as Bazzi struck a free kick in from eighteen metres. The Vampirii Albaştri fought back and three minutes past the half hour as veteran Dorel Zaharia redirected Liviu Băjenaru’s long free kick in. Elias Bazzi came back three minutes past the hour with the winning strike as he dipped a free-kick from sixteen metres over the wall and into the net.

Fighting to avoid relegation Poli Iaşi held off mid-table side Pandurii Târgu Jiu for an important point, playing to a 1-1 draw. Romanian international Andrei Cristea gave Iaşi the lead only twenty seconds into into the match as he broke up a lazy pass and drove the ball from a few metres beyond the area. Two minutes before the hour Florin Stîngă squared the match up as he headed a corner in from the edge of the six yard box.


Category Category: Liga 1 News

May 7th, 2009

week 29

By: sasha | Comments Add Comments

Dinamo Bucureşti maintained its two point lead on Unirea Urziceni with a narrow 1-0 victory over Oţelul Galaţi. The matches lone goal came eleven minutes before the break as Claudiu Niculescu continues his resurgent play with Dinamo as he split the defenders to play Ionel Dănciulescu through the right channel who then drove the ball to the top left corner from ten metres.

Dan Petrescu’s Unirea Urziceni stayed within two points of Dinamo Bucureşti with a 1-0 victory over Farul Constanţa. Two minutes before the break Iulian Apostol got revenge on his old club with the matches long goal. After sending in a corner from that left that was cleared back to him Apostol drove the back towards Marius Bilaşco at the near post and ended up in the back of the net after an opportunistic bounce.

Gloria Bistriţa leap out of the relegation zone with a shocking 1-0 defeat of Răzvan Lucescu’s FC Braşov. The matches lone goal with seven minutes remaining after a controversial penalty call. Noted veteran Cristi Coroian stepped up and drove the ball in for the 1-0 victory.

Steaua Bucureşti readied for Friday’s derby clash against Dinamo Bucureşti with a 1-0 victory over relegation condemned Gloria Buzău. The victory extends the Roş-Albaştrii unbeaten streak to six matches as they pull with four points of Timişoara. Marius Lăcătuş’ side took the lead sixteen minutes in as George Ogăraru played the ball to Juan Carlos Toja a few metres outside the box and after a quick pass to the left Bogdan Stancu pounded the ball to make it 1-0.

Poli Iaşi leapfrogged out of the relegation zone over Gaz Metan Mediaş with a thundering 4-0 victory over Argeş Piteşti. After a scoreless opening hour Iaşi poured in four goals in the remaining time. Two minutes past the hour Petar Jovanović sent a cross from the left into box that Andrei Cristea headed-in from six metres. Ten minutes later Cristea turned provider as he sent a low cross for Romulus Miclea to volley-in from a few metres out. Slovenian international Domen Beršnjak added the third goal with thirteen minutes remaining as he played a smooth one-two with Cristea before driving the ball into the far left corner from twelve metres. Beršnjak returned the favour as he supplied Andrei Cristea a long ball which he drove in from just inside the box for his second goal of the day as regulation time ran out

Once again Viorel Hizo came to rescue as the sixty-two year-old manager returned to lead Rapid Bucureşti for this fifth stint. Following the loss to Gaz Metan Mediaş, the wise veteran leader took charge and in his first match in-charge Rapid responded with a 3-0 devastation of CS Otopeni. After a scoring opening half Rapid took charge with João Paulo Andrade sent a powerful drive into the back of the net from twenty-five plus metres. Only six minutes later superb young product Lucian Răduţă scooped up a rebound of a João Paulo Andrade’s blocked attempt and drove the ball in from just inside the area. A minute into added time Ştefan Grigorie made it 3-0 as he took advantage of a similar loose ball and sent it in from fourteen metres.

FC Vaslui kept its European football hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Pandurii Târgu Jiu. Mike Temwanjera gave Vaslui the lead eighteen minutes into the match with his sixth goal of the campaign.

After losing to Pandurii Târgu Jiu last week, Universitatea Craiova responded with a 2-0 victory over Gaz Metan Mediaş. After a tight opening period Craiova took the lead as Julius Wobay free-kick from the left was flicked on by Valerică Găman to the back post with Florin Costea nodding it in. Romanian U-21 Constantin Gângioveanu was the creator of the second goal as with twenty-one minutes remaining he sent a cross from the bye-line into the box that Mihai Dina headed-in off the far post.

Gabi Balint’s Timişoara lost important ground in their championship race as they fell 2-0 to defending champions CFR Cluj. After a scoreless half Diego Ruiz gave Cluj the lead five minutes in as he accepted Sixto Peralta short volley into the box before driving the ball in from ten metres. With eighteen minutes left Ruiz turned provider as raced into the box before sending the ball to Sebastián Dubarbier on his left, who drove the ball into the top of the net from twelve metres to make it 2-0.


Category Category: Liga 1 News
April 28th, 2009

week 27

By: sasha | Comments Add Comments

Dinamo Bucureşti continued to drive forward for the championship defeating Farul Constanţa 3-1. Four minutes before the half hour Farul had the surprising 1-0 lead as Claudiu Voiculeţ’s free kick from the left into the box was turned in by Bruno Simão as an own-goal. At the thirty-eighth minutes Dinamo equalized the match as Gabriel Torje sent the ball to Adrian Cristea on his left on the edge of the area, who then powered the ball to the bottom right corner. Only two minutes later after Cosmin Moţi led a fast assault with Ionel Dănciulescu scored near the same spot to make it 2-1. After the break Dinamo extended its lead to 3-1 as Gabriel Torje capitalized on Ionel Dănciulescu’s perfect through-ball down the right channel before chipping over the onrushing ‘keeper George Curcă from eleven metres out. However the best was still to come as veteran Claudiu Niculescu made it 4-1 with ten minutes left as he intercepted a back-pass from Ben Teekloh, circled the ‘keeper to the right before striking the ball in.

Dan Petrescu continues to make a name for himself as one of the sports top young managers as his Unirea Urziceni defeated Politehnica Iaşi 2-1 with early goals by Cristian Dănălache and Ricardo Gomes.

Gabi Balint’s Timişoara squeezed out a narrow 1-0 victory over Gloria Bistriţa to pull within three points of Dinamo. In a very controversial call Mădălin Ciucă was shown his second yellow card with fifteen minutes left, forcing Bistriţa to play a man down for the balance of the match. Finally a minute into added time the deadlock was broken as Alexandru Curtean accepted Iasmin Latovlevici’s pass and fired a shocking drive to the top left corner from twenty five metres past ‘keeper Ciprian Tătăruşanu.

Universitatea Craiova continued its pursuit of European football with a 1-0 victory over Argeş Piteşti. After a tightly played match Jérémie N’Jock scored the winner with fourteen minutes remaining headubg-in Romanian international Dorel Stoica’s free-kick from the left.

CFR Cluj dropped important points in the as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Oţelul Galaţi. With four minutes left in the opening half Gabriel Mureşan was shown a straight red forcing Cluj to play a man down for the balance of the match. On the resulting free-kick Zhivko Zhelev gave Galaţi the lead as he struck a free-kick from just outside the area that took a helping deflection off the wall and into the net. Three minutes past the hour in a fast counter-attack led by Sebastián Dubarbier, Yssouf Koné received the ball on his left and sent the ball in from twelve metres.

Marian Rada’s Rapid Bucureşti crept into a Europa League spot with a 2-0 victory over Pandurii Târgu Jiu. Juliano Spadacio gave Rapid six minutes before the half-hour as he accepted Radomir Đalović provision at the top of the box before driving the ball in via a opportunistic deflection off Târgu Jiu defender Alin Chibulcutean. Spadacio doubled the margin with seventeen minutes remaining as he struck a free-kick to the left corner from twenty metres out.

Gaz Metan Mediaş continued its incredible turnaround as they defeated Gloria Buzău 2-1. Eric gave Mediaş the lead three minutes past the half-hour striking a free-kick from eighteen metres in before Ioan Mera squared the match up five minutes later as he headed in a corner. However with just under a half-hour remaining Eric grabbed his second of the day with a breathtaking curling free-kick from twenty-five metres to the opposite left corner.


Category Category: Liga 1 News
April 24th, 2009

week 26

By: sasha | Comments Add Comments

Week 26 of Liga 1 concluded with Dinamo Bucureşti holding a narrow lead over Unirea Urziceni and Timişoara.

After losing to Politehnica Iaşi, Dinamo Bucureşti responded with a 5-0 defeat of Gloria Bistriţa. Marius Niculae opened the scoring at the twentieth minute in his first of three goals as he headed in Zé Kalanga’s cross from twelve metres out before adding his second, heading in Gabriel Boştină’s cross four minutes before the hour. The same combination clicked sixteen minute later for Niculae’s third of the day. Osvaldo Miranda and Ionel Dănciulescu rounded out the scoring for Dinamo.

Gabi Balint’s Timişoara continued their push for the championship with a 3-0 victory over Politehnica Iaşi led by the unsung brilliance of Arman Karamyan. Timişoara grabbed the lead eleven minutes in as Arman Karamyan accepted a cross on the right and out-maneuvered the Iaşi defender before sending the ball to the opposite corner. Timişoara doubled its lead eight minutes into the new half via Gheorghe Bucur who ran under a long ball down the left before turning back to score from eight metres. The day was not done as with six minutes left Iaşi keeper Răzvan Pleşca could only partially stop Lukáš Magera’s shot from inside the box with the rebound coming to Artiom Karamyan who turned the ball in from close range.

Dan Petrescu’s Unirea Urziceni extended it’s unbeaten streak to nine with a tough 1-0 victory over FC Vaslui. The only goal came at the thirteenth minute as Marius Bilaşco volleyed in Sorin Frunză free-kick.

With both clubs fighting for a Europa League spot, the battle between Steaua Bucureşti and defending champions CFR Cluj was ripe with tension. The match didn’t disappoint in passion playing to a 1-1 draw with both sides finishing off a man down. Cluj took the lead nine minutes in as Juan Culio hit the mark from nine metres from Yssouf Koné’s through ball. Three minutes before the break the match boiled over with Florin Lovin shown a straight red-card forcing Steaua to play a man down but despite the disadvantage the match was level eight minutes into the new half. Tiago Gomes supplied Dayro Moreno the ball just outside the area and the Columbian international turned to fire past Cluj ‘keeper Eduard Stăncioiu. Sixteen minutes later the clubs were playing on equal terms as Cluj captain Cristian Panin was sent off with his second yellow and despite a great chance by Ricardo Pedriel late the match ended 1-1.

Following their 3-1 victory over Braşov, Rapid Bucureşti manager Marian Rada had his sights set on the closing the gap for a Europa League berth as his side traveled to face controversy-laden Argeş Piteşti on Tuesday. Despite the very serious problems Argeş is facing they defeated Rapid 1-0 with the matches lone goal coming from Adrian Iordache a thirty minutes in. Rapid had a great chance to level the match early in the new half but Juliano Spadacio couldn’t connect from the spot.

Not ready to dropped without a fight Gaz Metan Mediaş defeated CS Otopeni 3-0. Zarko Marković broke the deadlock four minutes into the new half via a corner. Cristian Bud proved why he is one of the most talked of players in the last month scoring adding two goals including a stunning drive with
with eighteen minutes remaining.

Elsewhere Oţelul Galaţi increased Farul ’s relegation concerns with a 2-0 defeat and Pandurii Târgu Jiu sent Gloria Bistriţa to their beautiful home with a 1-0 defeat.


Category Category: Liga 1 News
April 21st, 2009

week 25

By: sasha | Comments Add Comments

Week 25 of Romania Liga 1 opened with Steaua Bucureşti 1-0 defeat of Gaz Metan Mediaş with Pantelis Kapetanos scored the matches lone goal a minute before the hour as he flicked in Bănel Nicoliţă’s corner.

Gloria Buzău earned its second win of the year defeated Argeş Piteşti 3-1. Ioan Mera opened the scoring for Buzău only two minutes into the match. However Cosmin Năstăsie brought the match even nineteen minutes in nodding-in Cristian Tănaseand’s corner and set the stage for a whirlwind finish. With eight minutes remaining Marian Chiţu’s superb run down the left flank and low cross to Gueye Mansour gave Buzău the 2-1 lead. As regulation time ran down Chiţu half-volleyed the ball in from just outside the area to make it 3-1.

The showdown between Universitatea Craiova and Unirea Urziceni ended in scoreless draw. Craiova had the best chance early as Ştefan Bărboianu struck the crossbar from thirty metres a quarter of a hour into the match

On Saturday, upsets were in the making in shocking day.

CFR Cluj defeated Farul Constanţa 1-0 with the lone goal coming from Lacina Traore heading-in Emmanuel Culio’s cross from left with twenty-three minutes left.

CS Otopeni was disappointed at home, losing 1-0 to Pandurii Târgu Jiu with Novak Martinović headed-in a free-kick from close-range with seventeen minutes left on the clock.

Oţelul Galaţi fell 3-0 to Gloria Bistriţa. Diogo Ramos opened the scoring seventeen minutes after the opening whistle. Two minutes into the new half Cristian Coroian doubled the margin with Dorel Zaharia added the third goal with twelve minutes left in regulation.

Rapid Bucureşti defeated Braşov 3-1. Juliano Spadacio opened the scoring for Rapid twenty minutes into the match with a perfect free-kick from twenty metres to the top left corner. Eight minutes after the re-start Nicolae Grigore made it 2-0 for Rapid in one the nicest goals of the week as he accepted a long pass from João Paulo Andrade, controlled it with one touch and then volleyed into the netting. Romanian U21 Sabrin Sburlea brought Braşov with one with four minutes left on the clock as he headed-in Rui Duarte long cross into the box. However Nicolae Grigore sealed the match for Rapid with the second of his night after a well-played one-two with Radomir Đalović.

Timişoara lost to Vaslui 4-3 after taking a early two goal lead. Romanian international Gheorghe Bucur gave Gabi Balint’s Timişoara a two goal cushion as he headed-in Alexandru Curtean’s well placed cross from the six-yard box at the sixth minute and then from the spot two minutes later. Vasuli brought the match level with Wesley hitting the target two minutes before the half hour, only to be followed up by Srdjan Luchin’s own goal. Armenian international Artavazd Karamyan restored Timişoara’s lead seven minutes past the hour with a unstoppable left-footed drive to the top of the box. Mike Temwanjera evened the match with twenty-one minutes left as he sent in the rebound of Lucian Burdujan’s shot. With four minutes left Nemanja Milisavljević headed-in a long cross from three metres for the shocking win.

However nothing prepared Liga 1 fans for the biggest surprise, that being Politehnica Iaşi 1-0 defeat of Dinamo Bucureşti 1-0 with Lucian Munteanu finding the winner as he rose high the head-in a corner with three minutes left in the match.


Category Category: Liga 1 News
April 17th, 2009

Cupa României update

By: sasha | Comments Add Comments

Cupa României moves the semi-finals Dinamo Bucureşti, Timişoara, CFR Cluj and Vaslui and advancing.

Dinamo Bucureşti defeated Rapid Bucureşti 4-2 in an exciting match. Costin Lazăr gave Rapid the one goal lead ten minutes into the match however an own-goal by Dănuț Perjă leveled it eight minutes later. Gabriel Boştină gave Dinamo the lead eight minutes before the half volleying in a loose ball from the top of the box following a corner. Six minutes past the hour Marius Niculae doubled Dinamo’s lead as he headed Adrian Scarlatache’s cross in. With ten minutes left the Romanian international Niculae added his second of the night as he stylishly chipped the ball over the ‘keeper before heading it in. João Paulo Andrade added a consolation goal for Rapid in the second minute of added time but the match as decided with Dinamo winning 4-2.

Timişoara defeated Gloria Bistriţa 2-0 with both goals coming in the last minutes of the match. Just as regulation time ended striker Lukáš Magera raced into the box to fire a shot through goalkeeper Călin Albuţ’s net and into the net. Two minutes into added time Alex Curtean drove the insurance goal in.

Defending champions CFR Cluj edged Pandurii Târgu Jiu 1-0. In a highly controversial decision Alexandru Piţurcă was adjudged a penalty off a corner, resulting in the matches lone goal as Sixto Peralta converted from the spot with two minutes left in the half.

The big upset of quarter-finals was Vaslui’s 2-0 defeat Unirea Urziceni. Wesley gave the Vaslui the lead thirty two minutes into the match as he volleyed in Nemanja Milisavljević’s cross from eleven metres. Bulgarian Stanislav Genchev doubled the margin with eleven minutes remaining as he drove the ball in from thirty-five metres.

The semi-finals will now pair CFR Cluj versus Vaslui and Dinamo Bucureşti versus Timişoara


Category Category: Liga 1 News
April 14th, 2009

week 24 summary

By: sasha | Comments 1 Comment

The showcase match of the Liga 1 week 24 between Timişoara and Universitatea Craiova ended with a 1-0 victory for Timişoara. After Nicolò Napoli’s side missed a chance to take the lead with Dorel Stoica unable to convert from the spot, the lone goal came three minutes into the new half. Romania’s Gheorghe Bucur worked the ball to Arman Karamyan inside the six-yard box with the Armenian international, continuing his hot-streak after scoring twice in their 2-0 defeat of Rapid Bucureşti last week, to turn in the winning score.

First-place Dinamo Bucureşti rebounded after their disappointing loss to Universitatea Craiova with a 4-1 victory over Vaslui 4-1 as Romanian international Marius Niculae scored three times. Niculae opened the scoring six minutes before the half-hour as he converted from the spot after a penalty was adjudged on Gabriel Cânu. The complexion of the match changed two minutes before the hour Cânu received his second yellow-card and Vaslui were forced to play a man down. Twenty minutes later Dinamo extended its lead as Niculae re-directed Gabriel Torje’s corner in with minutes left. Mike Temwanjera brought the match within one with nine minutes remaining. Ianis Zicu restored the two goal lead with three minutes before Niculae notched his fourth as regulation ran out from Ionel Dănciulescu’s provision.

Dan Petrescu’s Unirea Urziceni lost points to Dinamo in their championship race as Rapid Bucureşti held them to a 1-1 draw. João Paulo Andrade on-loan from FC Porto gave Rapid the lead twenty-one minutes into the match. However Marius Bilaşco added the leveler for Urziceni eight minutes past the hour as he struck a perfect free-kick from just outside the area and into the back of the net. Rapid played the final twenty-two minutes with Juliano Spadacio who was shown his second yellow but Unirea Urziceni were unable to make use of the man advantage.

Farul Constanţa came from behind to draw even with Marius Lăcătuş’ Steaua Bucureşti 1-1. Bogdan Stancu gave Steaua the lead eleven minutes into the new half before Chico leveled with eighteen minutes remaining.

Gloria Bistriţa shocked defending champions CFR Cluj with a goal in fourth minute of added time to bring the match to a 2-2 draw. Diogo Ramos gave Bistriţa at the twenty-third minute before Uruguayan international Alvaro Pereira leveled the match for Cluj nine minutes later from a tight angle the the Bistriţa could not handle and the ball evaded him. Two minutes after the break Cluj took the lead with Peralta’s second of the day striking from ten metres after being played through. Yssouf Koné could have put the match away with four minutes later but could not convert from the spot. However in the fourth minute of added-time João Silva squared the match up at two as his close-range shot deflected off Juan Culio and into the net.

Braşov devastated Gloria Bistriţa 4-0 with captain Robert Ilyeş finding the net twice. Romeo Surdu, on-loan from Steaua, opened the scoring at the twenty-third minute before
Ezequias doubled the margin eleven minutes later. Robert Ilyeş added the third six minutes before the break and the final goal of the day at the eighty-second minute.

Argeş Piteşti played relegation candidates CS Otopeni to a 1-1 draw. Cosmin Năstăsie opened the scoring for Piteşti twenty-one minutes in with Romanian U-21 Liviu Ganea squaring the match four minutes before the hour.

Gaz Metan Mediaş problems continued as they lost to Pandurii Târgu Jiu with Milanko Rašković’s goal from just outside the area only a minute into the match.

Oţelul Galaţi defeated Politehnica Iaşi 3-2 with a late goal by Poli Iaşi took the lead fifteen minutes in with Ionuţ Bâlbă finding the back of the net. Alexandru Bourceanu brought the match level nine minutes later only from the spot to be followed with Adrian Sălăgean’s goal just before the half-hour. Romanian international Andrei Cristea leveled the match just before the break. However with eleven minutes left Zhivko Zhelev added the winner for Galaţi.

In upcoming action this Thurday, Steaua Bucureşti travel to face Gaz Metan Mediaş, Argeş Piteşti heads to Gloria Buzău and Universitatea Craiova welcomes Unirea Urziceni. Friday match-ups include CFR Cluj’s visit of Farul Constanţa, CS Otopeni hosting Pandurii Târgu Jiu and Oţelul Galaţi’s trip to Gloria Bistriţa. In other key matches Braşov travels to Rapid Bucureşti as both sides are in hot pursuit of a Europa League spot, while second-place Timişoara visits Vaslui and relegation concerned Politehnica Iaşi welcome first-place Dinamo Bucureşti.


Category Category: Liga 1 News
April 7th, 2009

week 22

By: sasha | Comments Add Comments

Following the international break, Liga 1 continued with Dinamo Bucureşti still looking like the front-runner although Unirea Urziceni, Timişoara and Cluj.

Mircea Rednic’s Dinamo Bucureşti made a good case for their championship hopes as the much defeated bitter rivals Rapid 3-0. While the score made it seem more one-sided then it actually was as Rapid is tough fight for a Europa League spot and not showing any quit. Dinamo took the lead just before the half hour with Ionel Dănciulescu finding the mark. Romanian international Marius Niculae added the second three minutes before the hour. Just before regulation time Adrian Cristea added the third to make it 3-0 for Dinamo.

In other action, Unirea Urziceni kept pace with Dinamo overcoming stubborn CS Otopeni with Tiberiu Bălan scoring the winner with only fifteen minutes remaining. Defending champions CFR Cluj continued to climb the table under António Conceição with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Vaslui. Hugo Alcântara opened the scoring for the defending champions seventeen minutes in to make it 1-0 before Yssouf Koné added the second a minute past the hour with Cristian Panin closing out the scoring in the third minute of added time.

Timişoara overwhelmed Gloria Buzău 4-1 with Gheorghe Bucur finding the net twice. The Romanian international opened the scoring at the ninth minute. Timişoara continued to press with Florin Maxim doubling the margin six minutes before the break. However Buzău were thrown a lifeline just before the whistle as Alin Vigariu found the net to make it 2-1. Gheorghe Bucur added his second to make it 3-1 three minutes after the hour with Armenian international Arman Karamyan completed the scoring five minutes before time with picturesque goal.

Universitatea Craiova defeated Oţelul Galaţi 2-0 with Romanian international Florin Costea finding the mark at the ninth minute with Julius Wobay making it 2-0 five minutes before the half.

Steaua Bucureşti continued in its run for the Europa League as it defeated Gloria Bistriţa 1-0 with former AEK striker Pantelis Kapetanos scoring the decider with five minutes remaining. Braşov defeated Gaz Metan Mediaş 2-1 with a stunning finish of three goal in the final nine minutes. Romeo Surdu opened the scoring for Braşov with nine minutes left to make it 1-0before Grillo squared the match four minutes later. However veteran Nicolae Constantin found the winner with three minutes remaining.

Argeş Piteşti defeated Pandurii Târgu Jiu 2-1 with Adrian Dulcea scoring twice. Milanko Rašković made it 1-0 for Pandurii twenty minutes in before the veteran Dulcea squared the match three minutes after the half hour mark. His second of the the day two minutes before the hour gave Argeş the 2-1 victory.

Politehnica Iaşi defeated Farul Constanţa 3-0 with three second half goals. Formerly of Reggina of Serie A, José Montiel opened the scoring three minutes before the half hour to Iaşi the 1-0> lead. Cristian Bratu doubled the score with eighteen minutes remaining with Romanian international Andrei Cristea adding the third a minute into added time.


Category Category: Liga 1 News
March 23rd, 2009

Romania Liga 1 week 21 update

By: sasha | Comments Add Comments

Week 21 of Liga 1 continued with Dinamo pulling away from the table with a series of surprising outcomes.

Dinamo Bucureşti defeated Gloria 1922 Bistriţa 3-1. Claudiu Niculescu opened the scoring from the spot in the twelfth minute

After Romanian international Marius Niculae doubled the margin at the thirty-first minute, Ionel Danciulescu rounded out the scoring for Dinamo as he found the net two minutes before the hour. Mansour Gueye added a consolation goal for Bistriţa as time ran out.

Universitatea Craiova defeated defending champions CFR Cluj 4-1. Florin Costea opened the scoring only a minute into the match and Dorel Stoica continued the onslaught as the scored from the spot only seven minutes later to make it 2-0. Hugo Alcântara drew one back for Cluj two minutes before the break. Florin Costea added his second the day heading in a cross as he raced into the six yard box. The Costea family scoring wasn’t complete as younger brother Mihai scored two minutes later making a statement for Romania’s manager, Victor Piţurcă.

Rapid Bucureşti was ruthless defeating Oţelul Galaţi 4-0. Ovidiu Herea opened the scoring for Rapid eleven minutes before the half with Ştefan Grigorie doubled the margin seven minutes into the new half. Juliano Spadacio remaining made it 3-0 with seven minutes remaining, followed up with Nicolae Grigore strike in the third minute of added-time.

Argeş Piteşti played Steaua Bucureşti to a 2-2 draw with a late saving goal leveling the match. Piteşti took the lead fourteen minutes in on Cristian Tănase’s goal. However Steaua found the equalizer just before the break with Ovidiu Petre’s strike. Pantelis Kapetanos made it 2-1 for Steaua with four minutes left but Elías Bazzi spoiled the victory celebration as he equalized the match only two minutes later.

In the surprise of the weekend Timişoara lost important points in the race as they needed a late goal by Winston Parks to play to a 2-2 draw against CS Otopeni. Veteran Gabriel Caramarin gave Galaţi the 1-0 lead eighteen minutes in. Liviu Ganea doubled the margin with twenty minutes left. However Timişoara came back with Winston Parks scoring twice, first with eighteen minutes remaining and then with only a minute on the clock.

However the biggest surprise of the weekend was Gaz Metan Mediaş 1-0 upset of Unirea Voluntari Urziceni with Cristian Bud’s goal on the hour.

Vaslui defeated Farul Constanţa 4-2. Hugo Luz opened the scoring for Vaslui at the tenth minute with Wesley doubled the lead three minutes past the hour. Jan Pahor brought one back for Constanţa five minutes before the break however Marko Ljubinković scored twice before the break to make it 4-1. Constanţa tried to come back but were only able to draw one goal back, that being Chico’s with sixteen minutes remaining.

Finally Politehnica Iaşi defeated Gloria 1922 Bistriţa 1-0 with the lone goal coming two minutes in from Ionut Bâlba and Pandurii Târgu Jiu and Braşov played to a 0-0 draw


Category Category: Liga 1 News
March 5th, 2009

Liga 1 week 18 summary

By: sasha | Comments Add Comments

Romania Liga 1 returned with Dinamo Bucureşti continuing on its winning run defeating Pandurii Târgu Jiu 3-0. The Câinii Rosii stormed back with Marius Niculae opening the scoring two minutes after the start as he headed in Adrian Scarlatache’s cross. Claudiu Niculescu made in 2-0 just before the half hour. Marius Niculae set-up Ianis Zicu for the final strike three minutes into added time as he centred the ball to Zicu to close for the six yard box

Steaua Bucureşti and FC Vaslui fought to a tough 1-1 draw. Wesley gave Vasuli the lead eight minutes as he turned in Nemanja Milisavljević incredible set-up. However just before the half-hour Romania international Bogdan Stancu leveled the match with a incredible volley from inside the box.

Politehnica Iasi edged Universitatea Craiova 1-0 as Cristian Bratu gave Iaşi the victory with the lone goal four minutes before the hour.

Rapid Bucureşti fought off its troubles with a resounding 3-1 victory over Gloria 1922 Bistriţa. Radomir Đalović opened the scoring for Rapid five minutes before the half hour with Césinha doubling the margin eight minutes later. With nineteen minutes remaining João Pedro Silva headed in Adrian Nalaṭi’s corner. João Paulo Andrade restored the two goal margin with four minute remaining and Ştefan Grigorie drew the ball back to him perfectly in the box.

Timişoara defeated Argeş Piteşti 2-1 as Cosmin Năstăsie gave Argeş the 1-0 lead eight minutes in as he accepted a long ball and struck from the top of the area. However eleven minutes later Winston Parks sent in Gigel Coman’s corner. Finally with four minutes remaining Stelian Stancu picked up a close range rebound to score the winning goal.

Defending Liga 1 champions CFR Cluj edged CS Otopeni 1-0 with Diego Ruiz scoring with two minutes on the clock and he headed-in Cristian Panin’s cross from ten metres.

Elsewhere Unirea Voluntari Urziceni were held to a scoreless draw by Braşov, Oţelul Galaţi defeated Gaz Metan Mediaş 3-1, Farul Constanţa up-ended Gloria Buzău 2-0.


Category Category: Liga 1 News

Romania National Team News
Offside RSS Feeds

Search The Offside


 

rounded_corners









Categories


rounded_corners

Send Your Tips!

Found a great story, photo or video that's perfect for The Offside?
Email romania[at]theoffside[dot]com

Related Links


Write for The Offside

LATEST COMMENTS


Archives