League

Etihad Stadium
Spectators: 7722 (Terracing: 5792, Seating: 1776, VIP seats: 154) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Nicu Balaban made the kick off which started today's match. Fabian Demian was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Gelu Trifănucă showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 4 minute of play. Vintilă Neața received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 7th minute. Fabian Demian tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 11 minutes into the game, one of F.C. Ripensia Timişoara:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Fabian Demian went to the wrong direction when Marcelo Vieira was taking care of the penalty kick which however missed the goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 16th minute, Nicu Balaban managed to get in a good position for a shot. Manchester City's supporters rose to their feet, but Nicu Balaban was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Fabian Demian breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. F.C. Ripensia Timişoara's Fabian Demian played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nicu Balaban in the 19th minute of play. Mugur Uncheşelu's late challenge caught a Manchester City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Mugur Uncheşelu helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Manchester City booed when F.C. Ripensia Timişoara was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mugur Uncheşelu didn't get a good kick on the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Vintilă Neața in the 24th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Fabian Demian prevented the ball from getting in the gole. If Nicu Balaban had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Manchester City's Nicu Balaban in the 29th minute got a chance for a shot 29th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye F.C. Ripensia Timişoara's goalie prevented a goal. Fabian Demian stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nicu Balaban's shot from short distance in the 31st minute. 38 minutes into the match, F.C. Ripensia Timişoara's goalkeeper Fabian Demian had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Paul Gurlui. Nicu Balaban struck a weak shot in the 40th minute. Fabian Demian didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Manchester City. 4-0 became the score in the 41st minute when Nicu Balaban elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Fabian Demian took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vintilă Neața, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 46 played minutes F.C. Ripensia Timişoara got a freekick which was hit by Mugur Uncheşelu. Af the end of the first half the score was 4-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Dorin Brănescu made a kick off. After having played for 51 minutes, Gelu Trifănucă managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Manchester City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gelu Trifănucă was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The supporters of Manchester City booed when F.C. Ripensia Timişoara was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 52 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mugur Uncheşelu didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fabian Demian made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Paul Gurlui in the 53rd minute of play. Gelu Trifănucă fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 54th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fabian Demian having to interfere. After having played for 55 minutes, Vintilă Neața managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Manchester City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Vintilă Neața was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Vintilă Neața struck a weak shot in the 57th minute. Fabian Demian didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Manchester City. After having played for 58 minutes, Gelu Trifănucă managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Manchester City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gelu Trifănucă was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. A collision led to F.C. Ripensia Timişoara getting a freekick after 62 minutes play. Remus Paveliuc hit a great ball. Nicu Balaban received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Fabian Demian tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Manole Șeitan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dorin Brănescu in the 67th minute of play. Dorin Brănescu struck a weak shot in the 69th minute. Manole Șeitan didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for F.C. Ripensia Timişoara. Manchester City's Nicu Balaban got a good chance for a goal in the 71st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 73rdth minute of the game Vintilă Neața who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but F.C. Ripensia Timişoara's Fabian Demian was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Manchester City's Manole Șeitan played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dorin Brănescu in the 74th minute of play. In the 75thth minute of the game Gelu Trifănucă who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but F.C. Ripensia Timişoara's Fabian Demian was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. When Vintilă Neața came up free with the goalie in the 76th minute, the Manchester City fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Vintilă Neața couldn't finish the play. Vintilă Neața's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Fabian Demian read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 78th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in F.C. Ripensia Timişoara's zone, Nicu Balaban stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Fabian Demian came out of the goal and Nicu Balaban tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 81st minute Paul Gurlui shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Fabian Demian saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mugur Uncheşelu kicked well hit freekick during the 83rd minute of the match. Paul Gurlui received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 85th minute. Fabian Demian tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gelu Trifănucă recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 87th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 88 minutes into the match, F.C. Ripensia Timişoara's goal looked a bit too open when Paul Gurlui came free, but Fabian Demian reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Paul Gurlui had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Octav Ţirpescu could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 93rd minute of the match, but Manole Șeitan made a huge save. The F.C. Ripensia Timişoara fans' excitement grew in the 93rd match minute when F.C. Ripensia Timişoara's Octav Ţirpescu looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 4-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. There was no doubt that Manchester City were the better team. Manchester City's players enjoyed the ovations of the crowd after the victory.