League Play-Off

Ion Oblemenco
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Anton Negru kicked off to start the match. After 2 played minutes FC Baia Mare got a freekick which was hit by Bogdan Măgurean. After 7 played minutes, FC Baia Mare's Cezar Manu shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Octavian Manole came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in FC Baia Mare reached it. Valer Ghionea fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bogdan Teodor having to interfere. In the 13th minute, Iosif Păun hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Laurențiu Mercescu in the 17th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Octavian Manole saved S.S. Lazio Craiova from getting behind. 17 minutes in the game, the ball went up into the seats when FC Baia Mare's Laurențiu Mercescu fired away a shot that was just a little bit too high. He walked away shaking his head. When FC Baia Mare's Anton Negru in the 19th minute got a chance for a shot 19th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye S.S. Lazio Craiova's goalie prevented a goal. When FC Baia Mare's Laurențiu Mercescu in the 24th minute got a chance for a shot 24th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye S.S. Lazio Craiova's goalie prevented a goal. 29 minutes had been played when some careless play by S.S. Lazio Craiova's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Pavel Nuțu was slow to take the kick. During this time FC Baia Mare's players had a chance to rest. Pavel Nuțu made a great header on FC Baia Mare's corner, it was just that S.S. Lazio Craiova's Octavian Manole managed to reach the ball for a save. Laurențiu Mercescu recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 31st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Laurențiu Mercescu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Anton Negru had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Octavian Manole took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Anton Negru, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 43rd minute Laurențiu Mercescu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Octavian Manole saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 48th minute, Sandu Lopatnicu managed to get in a good position for a shot. S.S. Lazio Craiova's supporters rose to their feet, but Sandu Lopatnicu was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Bogdan Teodor breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Valer Ghionea stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Bogdan Teodor showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ivan Oproiu, who was totally free with the ball in the 56th minute. In the 57th minute Valer Ghionea shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bogdan Teodor saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Laurențiu Mercescu could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 59th minute of the match, but Octavian Manole made a huge save. After a rather tough play, S.S. Lazio Craiova's Ioan Boroneanț got a free kick in the 60th minute. An unexpected shot in the 61st minute by Laurențiu Mercescu got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. The audience thought a goal was coming when Laurențiu Mercescu got free with Octavian Manole in the 66th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Valer Ghionea had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Anton Negru received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 81st minute. Octavian Manole tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Octavian Manole didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when FC Baia Mare's Laurențiu Mercescu shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 1-1 in the ordered_time% minute. Bogdan Teodor showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Valer Ghionea in the 87th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in S.S. Lazio Craiova's zone, Anton Negru stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Octavian Manole came out of the goal and Anton Negru tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 94 played minutes, S.S. Lazio Craiova's Dan Șerbulescu shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Bogdan Teodor came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in S.S. Lazio Craiova reached it. Octavian Manole was out of position in the 95 minute of play, and Laurențiu Mercescu capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Laurențiu Mercescu really showed his touch with that goal: 1-2. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. FC Baia Mare walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.