The return of Marius Lăcătuş
By: sasha |
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In a surprising turn-of-events Steaua Bucureşti owner George Becali has fired Dorinel Munteanu who was brought in only two months ago and appointed Marius Lăcătuş, who had resigned from the position. Under Dorinel Munteanu were only able to win once and finished dead last in their Champions League group and with the lack of production, the normal short-fused Roş-Albaştrii owner choose to end his run. Of the firing George Becali said simply:
“I do not see any chance of us winning the title.”
Category: Liga 1 News
Steaua Bucureşti loses to Fiorentina in Champions League
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Dorinel Munteanu’s Steaua Bucureşti lost to Fiorentina 1-0 at Stadionul Steaua. With the Roş-Albaştrii chances to advance to the UEFA Cup hinging on a victory, they came out with intent but could not break-through. Tricolorii capped Bănel Nicoliţă came close with a free kick early but it wasn’t to be and six minutes after the hour Juan Manuel Vargas’s corner was headed-in by Alberto Gilardino to give the Serie A club the 1-0 lead. The task went uphill six minutes last Polish international Paweł Golański was excused with his second yellow and the match concluded as a 1-0 defeat of Steaua Bucureşti.
I apologize how late this post was but I just noticed in the “draft” section.
Category: Liga 1 NewsCFR Cluj efforts fall short against Chelsea
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CFR Cluj ended its Champions League efforts with a 2-1 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but equally earned a great deal of respect from their peers.
Chelsea’s Michael Ballack said of Cluj:
“We knew from the first game with them how good they are – not just the result [a 0-0 draw] but their performance as well but it wasn’t just against us, Cluj also showed against Roma and Bordeaux that they can fight and play football.”
After Salomon Kalou gave Chelsea the lead five minutes before the half, the Liga 1 champions fought back and at the fifty-fifth minute Yssouf Kone headed the cross of Romanian international Cristian Panin into the net. Yet heroics were in store for Didier Drogba who scored with nineteen minutes remaining to give Chelsea the 2-1 victory.
While Cluj were impressive throughout the tournament, they unfortunately finished four and miss out on a chance for the UEFA Cup.
Category: Liga 1 NewsCFR Cluj visits Chelsea
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After getting off to a great start in the Champions League, Liga 1 defending champions CFR Cluj have stumbled with three consecutive losses. Sitting at the bottom of Group A, three points behind Bordeaux, this match is for pride and spoiling Chelsea’s hopes for the Champions League. As always for Cluj, key players to watch are Eugen Trică, Ciprian Deac, Gabriel Mureşan along with rumoured transfer targets Emmanuel Culio and Sebastián Dubarbier. This is certainly a peculiar match for Maurizio Trombetta’s side as with the lengthy Liga 1 break starting this past week, how they approach the visit to London will be of some question. All the (annoying) back and forth commentary Maurizio Trombetta and Luiz Felipe Scolari will mean little once the match begins and I Cluj expect to play a highly defensive match in a effort to push Chelsea out of the Champions League.
Category: Liga 1 NewsLiga 1 week 17 summary
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Dinamo Bucureşti maintained their top of the table form as they defeated a very tough Argeş Piteşti 2-0. The match was deadlocked until the Piteşti’s Ilie Poenaru was red-carded ten minutes after the re-start. With the man advantage Mircea Rednic’s Câinii Roşii got off the mark six minutes after the hour with Adrian Cristea’s close-range strike through the fog.
Deep into added time former-Independiente man Osvaldo Miranda doubled the margin
Dorinel Munteanu’s Steaua Bucureşti got by Unirea Voluntari Urziceni 1-0 on a last minute as ex-AEK Athens striker Pantelis Kapetanos scored as time ran out as his shot from outside the box took a huge deflection into the goal.
Rapid Bucureşti came from behind to defeat Politehnica Iaşi 2-1. Romulus Miclea gave
Iaşi the lead twelve minutes after the start after accepting a through-ball but with his strike taking a pronounced deflection over Vulturii Visinii ‘keeper.
Juliano Spadacio leveled the match just past the half-hour mark as he jumped on a rebound off Ovidiu Herea’s drive.
João Paulo scored the winning goal with twenty-six minutes remaining as Juliano Spadacio provided him a perfectly placed cross in close.
Timişoara continued to make their run up the table with a 4-0 destruction of Braşov. The match got off to a bad start for Braşov with a dreadful own goal by Cristian Oroş at the seventeenth minute.
Proud Armenian international Artavazd Karamyan brought the fans to their feet with a perfectly placed left footed shot to the opposite corner.
Lukáš Magera scored twice to round out the scoring, heading in Dorin Goga’s cross at the sixty-third minute
and bringing the match to its 4-0 final with eight minutes remaining with a close-range volley.
Defending champion CFR Cluj snuck-by Gaz Metan Mediaş 2-1. Romanian capped Gabriel Mureşan struck just past the half hour mark as his free-kick snuck through the wall.
However Alexandru Curtean leveled match into added time with a perfect drive to the opposite corner.
However the Cluj found the winner three minutes into added time with Sebastián Dubarbier gathering a long ball off and driving the ball into the net.
FC Vaslui shocked Universitatea Craiova with a late goal to earn a 1-1 draw. Mihai Dina opened the scoring five minutes into the match
Mike Temwanjera equalized the match two minutes into added time.
Elsewhere Gloria Bistriţa defeated Gloria Buzău 2-0, with the Vampirii Albaştri’ Cristian Coroian opening the scoring at the tenth minute
Cristian Silvăşan made it 2-0 six minutes before the break.
Farul Constanţa overcame CS Otopeni 1-0 with Dejan Rusmir goal two minutes past the half-hour mark.
Elsewhere Oţelul Galaţi and Pandurii Târgu Jiu played to a scoreless draw
With the end of week seventeen Liga 1 breaks for the long winter break. I will naturally be covering existing matches for the clubs in the Champions League and post on important matters but other return in late February.
| Romania Liga 1 week 16 | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | Pts |
| Dinamo Bucureşti | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 13 | 35 |
| Unirea Voluntari Urziceni | 17 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 14 | 34 |
| Timişoara | 17 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 32 | 20 | 29 |
| CFR Cluj | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 13 | 29 |
| Steaua Bucureşti | 17 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 24 | 13 | 29 |
| Universitatea Craiova | 17 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 28 |
| Rapid Bucureşti | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 17 | 28 |
| Argeş Piteşti | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 21 | 27 |
| Vaslui | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 16 | 25 |
| Oţelul Galaţi | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 20 | 23 |
| Braşov | 17 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 23 |
| Gloria 1922 Bistriţa | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 21 |
| Pandurii Târgu Jiu | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 22 | 21 |
| Farul Constanţa | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 24 | 19 |
| Politehnica Iaşi | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 25 | 16 |
| Gaz Metan Mediaş | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 18 | 31 | 15 |
| CS Otopeni | 17 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 14 | 31 | 9 |
| Gloria Buzău | 17 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 30 | 3 |
Category: Liga 1 NewsRoma dominates Cluj 3-1
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CFR Cluj fell far short of their goals as Roma dominated the defending Liga 1 champions 3-1. Matteo Brighi’s star shone brightly in the chill of the Cluj evening as he scored only eleven minutes after the match commenced as he collected Simone Perrotta’s cross for a straight-forward conversion. Cluj came back confidently and nearly leveled but Eugen Trică missed on the door-step. Twelve minutes after the opening strike, great Italian striker Francesco Totti riveted a free-kick to the back of the net to make it 2-0. The back and forth pace continued at on the half hour, Yssouf Koné brought the match to within one as he headed-in a loose rebound. While Cluj pressured for the draw, Matteo Brighi put an end to their hopes with twenty-six minutes remaining as he accepted Rodrigo Taddei’s pass and drilled it into the net to make it 3-1 for Roma.
Category: Liga 1 NewsSteaua Bucureşti falls to Bayern Munich
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Steaua Bucureşti’s Champions League hopes ended in sorrow with a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga. For forty-five minutes Steaua Bucureşti held Bayern Munich off the scoresheet but after the twelve minutes after the re-start Miroslav Klose broke the floodgates open with the first goal of the evening as he finished off a Massimo Oddo cross that had been advanced by Franck Ribéry. Only four minutes later the Germans doubled the margin with striker Luca Toni heading-in the second goal with Klose providing the opportunity. Klose capped his evening with his third goal of the night with nineteen minutes remaining. Romanian internationals Bănel Nicoliţă and Mirel Rădoi created a number of worthwhile chances but the ability to finish escaped them and Roş-Albaştrii hopes perished with a 3-0 loss. Hopes of advancing to the UEFA Cup now require a victory over Fiorentina when they visit Bucureşti on December 10.
Category: Liga 1 NewsCluj must defeat Roma
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As Maurizio Trombetta’s Cluj enters their Champions League match against Roma, they sit at the bottom of Group 1, two points behind Roma and Bordeaux who are tied. If Cluj are to advance they need a victory and must go against some of their typical defending tactics.
While Cluj upset Roma 2-1 at Stadio Olimpico earlier, both clubs have been going through quite a few things. Domestically Cluj is showing signs of exhaustion with sixteen matches in the last two months including this weekends 2-1 loss to Pandurii Târgu Jiu. Roma seems to be well on the road to recovery as they stampeded Lecce 3-0 this weekend.
Maurizio Trombetta said of Roma’s recovery:
“I would say that things have settled down,” adding “Roma were struggling to integrate new players back then and had injury problems. Now they are playing well, second in the group.”
Cluj is hampered with the possible loss of Gabriel Mureşan and Juan Culio with each being decided just before the match-time. Tony and Didi are both out for extended periods and will not be back this year.
Cluj will continue to play its tight defensive plan in a 4-5-1 formation and try to lock out Francesco Totti and coming with scoring coming from a Yssouf Koné counter attack. If Cluj comes with a victory, it will need to come through strong play from Ciprian Deac in the mid-field who has been playing extremely well of late.
Category: Liga 1 NewsSteaua Bucureşti UEFA Cup hopes
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With a single point after four Champions League matches, Steaua Bucureşti chances of advancing to UEFA Cup are slim. While there are a few different permutations on how to advance the most direct is for Dorinel Munteanu’s men overcome Bayern Munich while Lyon to defeat Fiorentina, setting up a final showdown against the Serie A squad.
It certainly will not be easy for the Roş-Albaştrii as Bayern is coming off a confidence boosting 4-1 defeat of Energie Cottbus and know that they can clinch a spot in the knockout stage in-front of their home fans. The heat is on Dorinel Munteanu as Steaua Bucureşti sits sixth in the table and although only in-charge of for the last two domestic matches, with only draws to show for them and in a string of five draws in-a-row, owners Gigi Becali short fuse is ready to go.
The biggest loss for Dorinel Munteanu is the loss of George Ogăraru and they will also be without Pantelis Kapetanos while Lukas Podolski looks to be healthy for the German side. To be successful the Roş-Albaştrii must rise-up on the strength of Petre Marin, Bănel Nicoliţă, Dorin Goian, Sorin Ghionea, Bogdan Stancu and Mirel Rădoi. The task is great but their abilities and soul up to the occasion.
Category: Liga 1 NewsLiga 1 week 16 summary
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Week sixteen of Liga 1 will certainly be remembered for its unexpected results. Table leader Unirea Voluntari Urziceni played Timişoara to a 1-1 draw. Marius Onofraş opened the scoring for Urziceni three minutes into the match
with Gigel Bucur equalizing the match for the Alb-Violeţii two minutes before the half hour mark.
In perfect conditions Braşov stunned Dinamo Bucureşti 2-0 as Marian Cristescu scored with twenty-one minutes remaining
and Mihai Roman added a second for good measure two minutes into added-time.
Universitatea Craiova and Steaua Bucureşti played to a scoreless draw while Pandurii Târgu Jiu defeated defending champions 2-1. Florin Stângă gave Minerii the lead twenty-five minutes into the match
and added the second just before the break with a stunning volley.
Eugen Trică brought one back, two minutes before the hour mark as he headed in a stunning cross from the top of the box but the defending champions fell short.
Rapid Bucureşti played Vaslui to a 2-2 draw. Vasile Maftei opened the scoring for Vulturii Visinii only two minutes into the match
with Juliano Spadacio making it 2-0 three minutes before the break with a blistering left-footed drive from inside the box.
Beleaguered Gloria Buzău came within a minute of a victory before Politehnica Iaşi scored to bring the match to a 1-1 draw. Claudiu Ionescu scored with fifteen minutes remaining
but Romulus Miclea leveled the match as time wound down amongst heavy snowfall.
Farul Constanta defeated Gaz Metan Mediaş with Lucian Pîrvu redirecting at corner with his left foot into the back of the net at the twenty-fourth minute.
Gloria Bistriţa defeated CS Otopeni 1-0. Cristian Coroian scored for the Vampirii Albaştri with fifteen minutes remaining as he chipped over the onrushing ‘keeper to give them the victory.
Argeş Piteşti defeated Oţelul Galaţi 3-2. Marian Tănasă scored at the twenty second minute
and the thirtieth minute before Argeş came storming back with three straight goals.
The Alb-Violeţii drew one back five minutes before the break with Youssouf Kamara’s goal
with Romanian international Iulian Tameş leveling the match four minutes after the hour mark with a left-footed drive from the edge of the box.
Fellow Tricolorii Cristian Tănase got behind the defenders with five minutes remaining and volleyed in a deep pass to the back of the net for the shocking come from behind victory.
| Romania Liga 1 week 16 | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | Pts |
| Unirea Voluntari Urziceni | 16 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 28 | 13 | 34 |
| Dinamo Bucureşti | 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 23 | 13 | 32 |
| Universitatea Craiova | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 15 | 27 |
| Argeş Piteşti | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 19 | 27 |
| Steaua Bucureşti | 16 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 10 | 26 |
| CFR Cluj | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 12 | 26 |
| Timişoara | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 28 | 20 | 26 |
| Rapid Bucureşti | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 16 | 25 |
| Vaslui | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 15 | 24 |
| Braşov | 16 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 23 |
| Oţelul Galaţi | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 20 | 22 |
| Pandurii Târgu Jiu | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 22 | 20 |
| Gloria 1922 Bistriţa | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 15 | 17 | 18 |
| Farul Constanţa | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 24 | 16 |
| Politehnica Iaşi | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 23 | 16 |
| Gaz Metan Mediaş | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 29 | 15 |
| CS Otopeni | 16 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 30 | 9 |
| Gloria Buzău | 16 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 6 | 28 | 3 |
Category: Liga 1 News
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